Epidemiological characterization and seasonality of respiratory syncytial virus in the United Arab Emirates: A five-year study at a tertiary care hospital, 2018–2022

IF 4 3区医学 Q1 INFECTIOUS DISEASES

Journal of Infection and Public Health Pub Date : 2025-10-13 DOI:10.1016/j.jiph.2025.103007

Heba A. Alamiri , Sara Hamwi , Mohammed T. Alsamri , Ghassan Ghattasheh , Ghaith Al Aryan , Huda Ali , Sarah Alaa , Aminu S. Abdullahi , Rami H. Al-Rifai , Hassib Narchi , Ahmed R. Alsuwaidi

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Background

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a major cause of morbidity and hospitalization in infants and young children. Understanding its epidemiological patterns is essential for guiding preventive strategies. This study examined the epidemiology and seasonality of RSV over a-five-year period - before and during the COVID-19 pandemic - at a tertiary hospital in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Methods

Medical records of children ≤ 5 years tested for RSV at Tawam Hospital between January 2018 and December 2022 were reviewed. Duplicate samples within four weeks were excluded, with PCR prioritized over antigen results. Both RSV-A and RSV-B types were analyzed. Season onset was defined as two consecutive weeks with RSV positivity > 3 % (PCR) or > 10 % (antigen). The association between RSV type and both hospitalization and hospital length of stay was investigated. Data were analyzed by year, RSV type, month, and epidemiological week.

Results

A total of 39,760 RSV tests (24,924 PCR; 14,836 antigen) were performed on 15,326 unique children. Testing increased over time, and the median age of screened children rose from 11 months (2018) to 15 months (2022). Overall RSV positivity was 11 % (2018), 11 % (2019), 2.9 % (2020), 16 % (2021), and 6.1 % (2022). RSV-A predominated in 2020–2021, while RSV-B was more common in 2022. RSV seasonality shifted during the pandemic, with delayed onset in 2020–2021, but returned to pre-pandemic timing in 2022. Of 2189 RSV-associated hospitalizations, 60.2 % occurred during 2021–2022. Infants < 6 months had the longest hospital stays (mean 5.8 days). Although RSV type was not associated with the length of hospital stay, infection with RSV-B was significantly associated with 6.7-times higher odds of hospitalization (aOR: 6.71; 95 % CI: 5.26–8.66; P < 0.001).

Conclusion

The study underscores the impact of COVID-19 on RSV seasonality in the UAE and highlights the need for sustained surveillance to optimize RSV prevention strategies.

查看原文本刊更多论文

阿拉伯联合酋长国呼吸道合胞病毒的流行病学特征和季节性：2018-2022年在一家三级医院进行的为期五年的研究

背景：呼吸道合胞病毒（RSV）是婴幼儿发病和住院的主要原因。了解其流行病学模式对于指导预防战略至关重要。本研究在阿拉伯联合酋长国（UAE）的一家三级医院检查了5年期间（COVID-19大流行之前和期间）RSV的流行病学和季节性。方法：回顾2018年1月至2022年12月在Tawam医院检测RSV的≤ 5岁儿童的病历。排除四周内的重复样本，PCR优先于抗原结果。对RSV-A型和RSV-B型进行分析。季节发病定义为连续两周RSV阳性> 3 % （PCR）或> 10 %（抗原）。研究了RSV类型与住院和住院时间的关系。数据按年份、RSV类型、月份和流行周进行分析。结果：对15326例独特儿童进行了39760例RSV检测（24924例PCR检测，14836例抗原检测）。检测随着时间的推移而增加，筛查儿童的年龄中位数从11个月（2018年）上升到15个月（2022年）。RSV总体阳性率分别为11. %（2018年）、11. %（2019年）、2.9 %（2020年）、16. %（2021年）和6.1 %（2022年）。RSV-A在2020-2021年占主导地位，而RSV-B在2022年更为常见。RSV的季节性在大流行期间发生了变化，在2020-2021年延迟发病，但在2022年恢复到大流行前的时间。在2189例rsv相关住院病例中，60.2% %发生在2021-2022年。结论：该研究强调了COVID-19对阿联酋RSV季节性的影响，并强调了持续监测以优化RSV预防策略的必要性。

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来源期刊

Journal of Infection and Public Health PUBLIC, ENVIRONMENTAL & OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH -INFECTIOUS DISEASES

CiteScore

13.10

自引率

1.50%

发文量

203

审稿时长

96 days

期刊介绍： The Journal of Infection and Public Health, first official journal of the Saudi Arabian Ministry of National Guard Health Affairs, King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences and the Saudi Association for Public Health, aims to be the foremost scientific, peer-reviewed journal encompassing infection prevention and control, microbiology, infectious diseases, public health and the application of healthcare epidemiology to the evaluation of health outcomes. The point of view of the journal is that infection and public health are closely intertwined and that advances in one area will have positive consequences on the other. The journal will be useful to all health professionals who are partners in the management of patients with communicable diseases, keeping them up to date. The journal is proud to have an international and diverse editorial board that will assist and facilitate the publication of articles that reflect a global view on infection control and public health, as well as emphasizing our focus on supporting the needs of public health practitioners. It is our aim to improve healthcare by reducing risk of infection and related adverse outcomes by critical review, selection, and dissemination of new and relevant information in the field of infection control, public health and infectious diseases in all healthcare settings and the community.