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Childhood respiratory infections and hospital admissions for COPD

T E McManus1, P V Coyle, J C Kidney

  • 1Department of Respiratory Medicine, Mater Hospital, Belfast BT14 6AB, UK. TerryMcManus@doctors.org.uk

Respiratory Medicine
|July 28, 2005
PubMed

Insights

Respiratory viral infections in children are linked to increased hospital admissions for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) exacerbations in adults. School holidays show a decrease in COPD admissions, supporting the role of viruses in COPD pathogenesis.

Area of Science:

  • Epidemiology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Pulmonology

Background:

  • Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) exacerbations are frequently triggered by viral infections.
  • The specific link between community-acquired respiratory viral infections in children and COPD exacerbations in adults requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine if community respiratory viral infections in children are associated with hospital admissions for COPD exacerbations in adults.
  • To examine the influence of school holidays on COPD admission rates.

Main Methods:

  • Data were collected over 45 months from a regional virus laboratory and a general hospital.
  • The study analyzed the correlation between pediatric upper respiratory infections and adult COPD hospitalizations.
  • The impact of school holiday periods on COPD admissions was also assessed.

Main Results:

  • A significant correlation was observed between the frequency of viral infections in children and adult COPD hospitalizations (P<0.005).
  • Specific viruses, including influenza A and B, adenovirus, and respiratory syncytial virus, showed distinct associations with COPD admissions.
  • COPD admissions were significantly lower during the week following the commencement of school holidays (P<0.05).

Conclusions:

  • Hospitalizations of children with viral respiratory infections coincide with a rise in adult COPD admissions.
  • These findings suggest that respiratory virus epidemics contribute to the pathogenesis of COPD exacerbations.
  • The reduction in COPD admissions during school holidays provides additional support for the role of respiratory viruses in COPD exacerbations.
Abstract

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