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Respiratory Syncytial Virus in Xiamen, China: Epidemiological and Clinical Shifts Across COVID-19 Pandemic Phases
  • +2
  • Qiufeng Sun,
  • Yungang Yang,
  • Lihua Lin,
  • Chen Lili,
  • Youfen Chen
Qiufeng Sun
The First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University
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Yungang Yang
The First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Lihua Lin
The First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University
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Chen Lili
The First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University
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Youfen Chen
The First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University
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Abstract

Objective To analyzed epidemiology and clinical feature of respiratory syncytial virus(RSV) in Xiamen, China, and to compare RSV infections before, during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods From January 2017 to December 2023, medical records of inpatients aged under 5 years with lower respiratory infection with RSV infections were reviewed. The epidemiology and clinical features were analyzed. Results The peak of RSV epidemiology was shifted from September (pre-COVID-19) to June-September (during and post-COVID-19). The proportion of patients aged over 2 years increased during and post-COVID-19 period (29.5% and 35.2% vs 14.9%, P<0.01). Compared with pre-COVID-19 period, fever was more prevalent during and post-COVID-19 period (70.5% and 76.0% vs 51.6%, P<0.01). The incidence of oxygen supplement and ventilator usage was higher in the post-COVID-19 period compared with pre-COVID-19 period (43.2% vs 28.8% and 10.4% vs 2.3%, P<0.01). Clinical characteristics across the three period by age stratified noted increased disease severity in children aged under 6 months, with higher incidence of ventilator usage and ICU admissions during the COVID-19 pandemic and post-COVID-19 period(P<0.015), while disease severity was similar in children aged over 2years across three phases. Binary logistic regression analyses for risk factors of ICU admission showed that younger age (adjusted OR 2.7,95% CI 1.9-3.8, P <0.001), tachypnea (adjusted OR 3.4,95% CI 2.2-5.4, P <0.001) were the significant independent risk factors associated with ICU admissions in RSV infection. Conclusion The COVID-19 pandemic has altered RSV epidemiology and clinical characteristics, increased severity was observed in children aged under 6 months during these periods. These findings underscore the need for continued surveillance of RSV patterns in the post-COVID-19 era and adaptive prevention strategies.
29 Aug 2024Submitted to Pediatric Pulmonology
16 Sep 2024Submission Checks Completed
16 Sep 2024Assigned to Editor
16 Sep 2024Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
21 Oct 2024Reviewer(s) Assigned