Work

Heterogeneity of Clinical Phenotypes in Severe Acute Respiratory Infections Owing to Respiratory Syncytial Virus: A Need to Look Beyond Hospitalization

Year: 2024

Type: article

Abstract: OBJECTIVE: To use a pre-COVID-19 birth cohort database to describe the clinical heterogeneity of severe acute respiratory infection (SARI) cases of the past seasons as a basis to investigate further distribution of clinical phenotypes in the era of immunization for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). STUDY DESIGN: <93%), or neurological (failure to respond, apneas) impairments. RESULTS: We described 3 phenotypes: nutritional impairment, respiratory impairment, and neurological (with respiratory and nutritional) impairment. Respiratory impairment could overlap with nutritional impairment, or not. There was a significant difference in age categories distribution regarding nutritional impairment (greater proportion in 1.5- to 3.0-month-olds; P = .01) and neurological impairment (greater proportion in <1.5-month-olds; P = .002). CONCLUSIONS: The present study highlights the presence of 3 potentially overlapping phenotypes as a new way to consider and describe RSV disease. To adapt care and healthcare policies in the RSV immunization era, it is necessary to investigate further and monitor the residual SARI burden of each phenotype.

Source: The Journal of Pediatrics

DOI: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2024.114441