Abstract
BackgroundRespiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection is a major cause of hospitalization in young children in Canada, despite routine immunoprophylaxis in those with medical risk factors. We aimed to determine if cold temperatures are associated with RSV hospitalization.MethodsWe conducted a population-based nested case–control study of children in Ontario, Canada, using health administrative data. We compared children hospitalized for RSV between September 1, 2011 and August 31, 2012 to age and sex matched controls. We used multivariable logistic regression to identify associations between minimum daily temperature and RSV hospitalizations with adjustment for sociodemographic and environmental factors.ResultsWe identified 1670 children with RSV hospitalizations during the study period and 6680 matched controls. Warmer temperatures (OR = 0.94, 95%CI: 0.93, 0.95) were associated with lower odds of RSV hospitalization. Southern ecozone (OR = 1.6, 95%CI: 1.2, 2.1), increased ozone concentration (OR = 1.03, 95%CI: 1.01, 1.06) and living in a lower income neighbourhood (OR = 1.3, 95%CI: 1.1, 1.5) significantly increased the odds of RSV hospitalization, as did living in a household with a larger number of siblings in a sub-cohort of children (OR = 1.34, 95%CI: 1.26, 1.41).ConclusionsIn Ontario, the likelihood of having an RSV hospitalization is associated with colder temperature exposures and socioeconomic factors.
Highlights
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection is a major cause of hospitalization in young children in Canada, despite routine immunoprophylaxis in those with medical risk factors
We identified all children hospitalized for RSV between September 1, 2011 – August 31, 2012 and compared their mean temperature exposure and other geographic and demographic characteristics to an age- and sex- matched cohort of children who were not hospitalized for RSV
The odds of RSV hospitalization decreased per 1 °C increase in mean daily temperature (OR = 0.94, 95% CI: 0.93, 0.95)
Summary
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection is a major cause of hospitalization in young children in Canada, despite routine immunoprophylaxis in those with medical risk factors. Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) is a major cause of lower respiratory tract infection, accounting for approximately 85% of bronchiolitis and 20% of pneumonia diagnoses in children [1, 2]. Beyond the acute morbidity and Methods to reduce the frequency of severe RSV infection have focused on providing immunoprophylaxis to children with a major risk factor for severe RSV infection (i.e. hospitalization). In Ontario, the Radhakrishnan et al BMC Infectious Diseases (2020) 20:157 specific high-risk criteria that make a child eligible for publicly funded RSV immunoprophylaxis include prematurity, chronic lung disease, congenital heart disease and trisomy 21, with approximately 2% of children meeting these criteria and receiving prophylaxis each year. In Ontario, the Radhakrishnan et al BMC Infectious Diseases (2020) 20:157 specific high-risk criteria that make a child eligible for publicly funded RSV immunoprophylaxis include prematurity, chronic lung disease, congenital heart disease and trisomy 21, with approximately 2% of children meeting these criteria and receiving prophylaxis each year. (See Supplementary Table 1 for Ontario RSV immunoprophylaxis criteria)
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