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Updated: Aug 28, 2025
An In vitro Model to Study Immune Responses of Human Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells to Human Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection
Published on: December 10, 2013
Risk factors associated with severe disease in respiratory syncytial virus infected children under 5 years of age
Lise Beier Havdal1,2, Håkon Bøås2, Terese Bekkevold2
1Department of Paediatric and Adolescent Medicine, Akershus University Hospital, Lørenskog, Norway.
Insights
Young children under 59 months hospitalized with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) face severe disease risks. Factors like young age, comorbidities, and having siblings increase the likelihood of severe RSV outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Infectious Diseases
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a common cause of hospitalization in young children.
- Identifying risk factors for severe RSV disease is crucial for timely intervention and resource allocation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate risk factors associated with severe disease in children under 59 months hospitalized with RSV infection.
Main Methods:
- Prospective enrollment of 1,096 children with laboratory-confirmed RSV infection over three seasons (2015-2018).
- Data collection via questionnaires and national health registries to identify risk factors.
- Severity defined by need for respiratory support or length of stay >72 hours.
- Multivariable logistic regression and multiple imputation were used for analysis.
Main Results:
- Younger age (<3 months), presence of siblings, and comorbidities were significant risk factors for requiring respiratory support.
- These factors were also associated with a longer hospital stay (>72 hours).
- Sub-group analysis confirmed young age and having siblings as risk factors for respiratory support needs in children under 6 months.
Conclusions:
- Young age, comorbidities, and having siblings are key risk factors for severe RSV disease in hospitalized children under 59 months.
- These findings highlight vulnerable populations requiring targeted management strategies.
Objective:
To evaluate risk factors for severe disease in children under 59 months of age hospitalized with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection.
Study Design:
We prospectively enrolled 1,096 cases of laboratory confirmed RSV infection during three consecutive RSV seasons in 2015-2018. Potential risk factors for severe disease were retrieved through patient questionnaires and linkage to national health registries. Need for respiratory support (invasive ventilation, bi-level positive airway pressure, or continuous positive airway pressure), and length of stay exceeding 72 h were used as measures of disease severity. Associations were investigated using multivariable logistic regression analyses. Multiple imputation was used to avoid bias and inference induced by missing data.
Results:
Risk factors associated with a need for respiratory support included age younger than 3 months of age [aOR: 6.73 (95% CI 2.71-16.7)], having siblings [aOR: 1.65 (95% CI 1.05-2.59)] and comorbidity [aOR: 2.40 (95% CI 1.35-4.24)]. The length of hospital stay >72 h was significantly associated with being younger than 3 months of age [aOR: 3.52 (95% CI 1.65-7.54)], having siblings [aOR: 1.45 (95% CI 1.01-2.08)], and comorbidity [aOR: 2.18 (95% CI 1.31-3.61)]. Sub-group analysis of children younger than 6 months of age confirmed the association between both young age and having siblings and the need for respiratory support.
Conclusion:
In a large cohort of children <59 months hospitalized with RSV infection, young age, comorbidity, and having siblings were associated with more severe disease.
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