Uusitupa E, Waris M, Vuorinen T, Heikkinen T. Respiratory Syncytial Virus-Associated Hospitalizations in Children: A 10-Year Population-Based Analysis in Finland, 2008-2018.
Influenza Other Respir Viruses 2024;
18:e13268. [PMID:
38477388 DOI:
10.1111/irv.13268]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2023] [Revised: 02/05/2024] [Accepted: 02/06/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND
The risk of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) hospitalization is highest during the first months of life, but few studies have assessed the population-based rates of hospitalization in monthly age groups of infants.
METHODS
We determined the average population-based rates of hospitalization with virologically confirmed RSV infections in children ≤15 years of age admitted during the 10-year period of 2008-2018. Testing for RSV was routine in all children hospitalized with respiratory infections, and all RSV-positive children admitted at any time during the study period were included in the analyses.
RESULTS
The annual population-based rate of RSV hospitalization was highest in infants 1 month of age (52.0 per 1000 children; 95% CI, 45.2-59.7), followed by infants <1 month of age (34.8 per 1000; 95% CI, 29.2-41.1) and those 2 months of age (32.2 per 1000; 95% CI, 26.9-38.4). In cumulative age groups, the rate of hospitalization was 39.7 per 1000 (95% CI, 36.2-43.4) among infants <3 months of age, 26.8 per 1000 (95% CI, 24.8-29.0) in infants aged <6 months, and 15.8 per 1000 (95% CI, 14.7-17.0) in those <12 months of age.
CONCLUSION
In monthly age groups of infants, the incidence rates of virologically confirmed RSV hospitalization in all infants up to 3 months of age were substantially higher than those reported in earlier studies. These data may be important for improving the estimates of the cost-effectiveness of various interventions to reduce the burden of RSV in young infants.
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