Burden of Respiratory Syncytial Virus in the European Union: estimation of RSV-associated hospitalizations in children under 5 years.

BACKGROUND

No overall estimate of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)-associated hospitalizations in children aged under 5 years has been published for the European Union (EU). We aimed to estimate the RSV hospitalization burden in children aged under 5 years in EU countries and Norway, by age group.

METHODS

We collated national RSV-associated hospitalization estimates calculated using linear regression models via the RESCEU project for Denmark, England, Finland, Norway, the Netherlands, and Scotland, 2006-2018. Additional estimates were obtained from a systematic review. Using multiple imputation and nearest neighbor matching methods, we estimated overall RSV-associated hospitalizations and rates in the EU.

RESULTS

Additional estimates for 2 countries (France and Spain) were found in the literature. In the EU, an average of 245 244 (95% confidence interval [CI], 224 688-265 799) yearly hospital admissions with a respiratory infection per year were associated with RSV in children aged under 5 years, with most cases occurring among children aged under 1 year (75%). Infants aged under 2 months represented the most affected group (71.6 per 1000 children; 95% CI, 66.6-76.6).

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings will help support decisions regarding prevention efforts and represent an important benchmark to understand changes in the RSV burden following the introduction of RSV immunization programs in Europe.

Informations de copyright

© The Author(s) 2023. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Infectious Diseases Society of America.

Déclaration de conflit d'intérêts

Potential conflicts of interest. H. C. reports grants, personal fees, and nonfinancial support from World Health Organization; grants and personal fees from Sanofi Pasteur; grants from Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, all payments made via the University of Edinburgh; and is a shareholder in the Journal of Global Health, Ltd. J. P. declares that Nivel has received unrestricted research grants regarding the epidemiology of RSV from Sanofi Pasteur and IMI in the past 12 months. X. W. has received research grants from GlaxoSmithKline; and consultancy fees from Pfizer, outside the submitted work. T. H. has received honoraria for lectures and/or participation in advisory boards or data monitoring committees from Janssen, Sanofi Pasteur, Enanta, and MSD. M. B. is an employee of Sanofi Vaccines and may hold stocks in the company. All other authors report no potential conflicts. All authors have submitted the ICMJE Form for Disclosure of Potential Conflicts of Interest. Conflicts that the editors consider relevant to the content of the manuscript have been disclosed.