Correlation Between RSV Severity, Frequency and COVID-19 Pandemic

Objective:

A research group led by Jose Boris Trigueros Montes, MD, aimed to compare the incidence and severity of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection in children aged 0-60 months before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods:

The researchers retrospectively reviewed charts of this patient cohort who tested positive for RSV between May 1, 2018 and May 31, 2022 in a community hospital in Queens County, New York. They compared seasons 2018-2019 and 2019-2020 before the pandemic and seasons 2020-2021 and 2021-2022 during the pandemic.

Infection severity was assessed using the Bronchiolitis Severity Score (BSS). Data were analyzed using R software, and a P<.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results:

RSV infection incidence in seasons 2018-2019 and 2019-2020 peaked from mid-October to February, whereas in the 2020-2021 season (the first observed during the COVID-19 pandemic) incidence truncated with very low RSV infection rates. Season 2021-2022 peaked from September to January, with the highest incidence (37%) and lower frequency of RSV infection at any given point. Of note, patients during the 2021-2022 season were older (H [2-196.6],12.5; P<.001; 95% CI, 5.4-25.6) and had milder illness (H [2-187.5], 7.5; P<.01; 95% CI, 2.1-19.2).

Conclusion:

Lower incidence of RSV infection and lower rates of hospitalization were most pronounced during the COVID-19 pandemic. The second RSV season during the COVID-19 pandemic began earlier, lasted longer, and had lower frequency. Older children with milder illness were affected most during the 2021-2022 RSV/COVID-19 pandemic season.

Implication:

The correlation between RSV severity and frequency and the COVID-19 pandemic could have significant ramifications in prevention and control strategies for future RSV seasons.