Abstract
IntroductionRespiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the leading cause of hospitalization among infants in the United States, and the risk for RSV hospitalizations is greater for infants born preterm. Recent studies in preterm and term infants have shown that RSV hospitalization rates vary considerably depending on infant chronologic age. This study sought to aggregate the data available from published literature and from nationally representative databases of US infant hospitalizations to generate a composite description of the effect of young chronologic age on RSV hospitalizations among US preterm and term infants by individual month of age.MethodsData describing the relative incidence of RSV hospitalizations by individual month of chronologic age during the first year of life were obtained from recently published studies, the 2006–2011 National Inpatient Sample databases, and the 2006 and 2009 Kids Inpatient Databases.ResultsAll data sources showed that ≥20% of infant RSV hospitalizations occurred in the second month of life and >50% and >75% of RSV hospitalizations were observed during the first 3 and 6 months of life, respectively. These findings were consistent for both preterm and term infants.ConclusionData from multiple sources demonstrate that the greatest risk of RSV hospitalization occurs during the first 6 months of life among US preterm and term infants. Strategies to prevent infant RSV hospitalizations should be targeted to infants during the first months of life.FundingAstraZeneca.
Highlights
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the leading cause of hospitalization among infants in the United States, and the risk for RSV hospitalizations is greater for infants born preterm
A recent systematic literature review conducted among healthy preterm infants born at 29–35 weeks gestational age concluded that preterm infants were at elevated risk of RSV hospitalization relative to term infants and that young chronologic age during the RSV season was one of the most important risk factors for RSV hospitalization in this population [14]
Among preterm infants born at 33–34 and 35–36 weeks gestational age (wGA) in the Helfrich study, the greatest number of RSV hospitalizations was observed during the second month of life [22.9% (n = 30) and 22.7% (n = 88), respectively]
Summary
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the leading cause of hospitalization among infants in the United States, and the risk for RSV hospitalizations is greater for infants born preterm. This study sought to aggregate the data available from published literature and from nationally representative databases of US infant hospitalizations to generate a composite description of the effect of young chronologic age on RSV hospitalizations among US preterm and term infants by individual month of age. Methods: Data describing the relative incidence of RSV hospitalizations by individual month of chronologic age during the first year of life were obtained from recently published studies, the 2006–2011 National Inpatient Sample. This study sought to aggregate the data available from published literature and from nationally representative databases of US infant hospitalizations to generate a composite description of the effect of chronologic age by individual month on RSV hospitalizations among US term and preterm infants A recent systematic literature review conducted among healthy preterm infants born at 29–35 weeks gestational age (wGA) concluded that preterm infants were at elevated risk of RSV hospitalization relative to term infants and that young chronologic age during the RSV season was one of the most important risk factors for RSV hospitalization in this population [14].
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
