Early Life RSV: Can Vaccines Help Fix Societal Ills?

Abstract

* Abbreviations: LRI — : lower respiratory infection RSV — : respiratory syncytial virus SDOH — : social determinants of health During this pandemic, the impact of health disparities on mortality due to COVID-19 has been high among our concerns about this illness.1–4 Unfortunately, disparities related to respiratory infections are not limited to COVID-19. There are decades of research revealing that morbidity and mortality are strongly influenced by the social determinants of health (SDOH). Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the leading cause of lower respiratory infection (LRI) in infants and a major cause of hospitalization in the first 2 years of life.5–7 In this issue of Pediatrics , Fitzpatrick et al8 report on the impact of sociodemographic and psychosocial factors on the risk for RSV hospitalization in children <3 years of age in Ontario, Canada. The authors used linked sociodemographic and health administrative data sets covering the period from 2012 to 2018 to identify factors associated with hospitalization. Their findings reveal the increased risk of hospitalization associated with maternal characteristics consistent with social vulnerability, including younger age, involvement with the criminal justice system, and mental health problems or addiction. The use of low-income drug benefits, a measure of socioeconomic status, was also associated with RSV hospitalization, as was an area level measure of income showing an increased risk of hospitalization with the lowest two quartiles of income. In their study, Fitzpatrick et al8 reinforce the important, enduring, and widespread influence of SDOH on our youngest patients. These … Address correspondence to Mary T. Caserta, MD, Department of Pediatrics, University of Rochester Medical Center, Golisano Children’s Hospital at Strong, 601 Elmwood Ave, Box 690, Rochester, NY 14642. E-mail: mary_caserta{at}urmc.rochester.edu