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Human metapneumovirus in patients hospitalized with acute respiratory infections: A meta-analysis

Annick Lefebvre¹, Catherine Manoha², Jean-Baptiste Bour²

¹Epidemiology and infection control unit, Dijon University Hospital, France.

Journal of Clinical Virology : the Official Publication of the Pan American Society for Clinical Virology

|June 24, 2016

Abstract:

This meta-analysis aimed to estimate the prevalence of human metapneumovirus (hMPV) infections in patients hospitalized for acute respiratory infection (ARI) and to study factors associated with this prevalence. Medline and ScienceDirect databases were searched for prospective observational studies that screened hospitalized patients with ARI for hMPV by RT-PCR, with data available at December 27, 2014. The risk of bias was assessed regarding participation rate, definition of ARI, description of diagnostic technique, method of inclusion identical for all subjects, standardized and identical sampling method for all subjects, analysis performed according to the relevant subgroups, and presentation of data sources. Random-effect meta-analysis with arcsine transformation and meta-regressions was used. In the 75 articles included, the prevalence of hMPV among hospitalized ARI was 6.24% (95% CI 5.25-7.30). An effect of the duration of the inclusion period was observed (p=0.0114), with a higher prevalence of hMPV in studies conducted during periods of 7-11 months (10.56%, 95% CI 5.97-16.27) or complete years (7.55%, 95% CI 5.90-9.38) than in periods of 6 months or less (5.36%, 95% CI 4.29-6.54). A significant increase in the incidence with increasing distance from the equator was observed (p=0.0384). hMPV should be taken into account as a possible etiology in hospitalized ARI.

Insights

Human metapneumovirus (hMPV) is present in over 6% of hospitalized acute respiratory infection (ARI) cases. Its prevalence increases with study duration and distance from the equator, suggesting hMPV as a key pathogen in severe respiratory illness.

Area of Science:

Virology
Epidemiology
Public Health

Background:

Human metapneumovirus (hMPV) is a significant respiratory pathogen.
Understanding hMPV prevalence in hospitalized patients with acute respiratory infection (ARI) is crucial for diagnosis and management.

Purpose of the Study:

To estimate the prevalence of hMPV infections in hospitalized ARI patients.
To identify factors associated with hMPV prevalence.

Main Methods:

A systematic literature search of Medline and ScienceDirect databases was conducted.
Prospective observational studies using RT-PCR for hMPV detection in hospitalized ARI patients were included.
Random-effect meta-analysis and meta-regressions were employed to analyze data.

Main Results:

The overall prevalence of hMPV among hospitalized ARI patients was 6.24%.
Higher hMPV prevalence was observed in studies with longer inclusion periods (7-11 months or complete years).
A significant positive correlation was found between hMPV incidence and increasing distance from the equator.

Conclusions:

hMPV is a notable cause of hospitalization for acute respiratory infections.
Factors such as study duration and geographic location influence hMPV prevalence.
hMPV should be considered in the etiological diagnosis of hospitalized ARI patients.

Read full analysis

Keywords:

Acute respiratory infection Human metapneumovirus Meta-analysis Prevalence Respiratory virus

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