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An In vitro Model to Study Immune Responses of Human Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells to Human Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection
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Published on: December 10, 2013

The evolution of risk factors for respiratory syncytial virus-related hospitalisation in infants born at 32-35 weeks'

Xavier Carbonell, John R Fullarton, Katherine L Gooch

    Journal of Perinatal Medicine
    |October 25, 2012
    PubMed

    Insights

    The risk of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) hospitalisation in preterm infants (32-35 weeks gestational age) persists for at least 5-6 months. Factors like sex, smoking, and household environment influence this risk beyond 90 days.

    Area of Science:

    • Pediatrics
    • Infectious Diseases
    • Neonatology

    Background:

    • Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a leading cause of infant hospitalisation.
    • Preterm infants, particularly those born at 32-35 weeks gestational age (wGA), may be at higher risk.
    • Understanding the temporal risk of RSV hospitalisation is crucial for prevention strategies.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To investigate how the risk of RSV-related hospitalisation evolves during the first year of life in infants born at 32-35 wGA.
    • To identify factors influencing RSV hospitalisation risk in this vulnerable population.

    Main Methods:

    • Utilised data from the FLIP-2 study, including 190 RSV hospitalisation cases and 4566 age-matched controls.
    • Employed Cox regression analysis with time-dependent covariates, analysing risk in 1-month intervals from birth.

    Main Results:

    • Half of all RSV hospitalisations occurred within 68 days of birth; 56% within 90 days.
    • Infants born during the RSV season experienced earlier hospitalisations (median 58 days) compared to those born outside the season (median 148 days).
    • Risk factors beyond 90 days included male sex, maternal smoking during pregnancy, birth month, breastfeeding duration, siblings in school, and household smokers.

    Conclusions:

    • The risk for RSV hospitalisation extends to at least 5-6 months of age in infants born at 32-35 wGA.
    • These findings highlight the need for extended disease prevention measures for this preterm infant group.
    • Identifying specific risk factors can inform targeted interventions for RSV prevention.
    Abstract

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