ArticleInfection2025
The severity of respiratory syncytial virus infection in children during the SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19 pandemic: A nationwide study of 11,915 cases in Germany.
Article in Infection, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.
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Who cites it
2 citing papers in PubMed.
- Epidemiological Changes in Pediatric RSV Infections in Poland (2016-2024): Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic.Journal of clinical medicine · 2025Article
- Changing Trends in Paediatric Acute Respiratory Infections:Sultan Qaboos University medical journal · 2025Article
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Authors and funding
9 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
purposeRespiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection is a major cause of childhood hospitalization. The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the usual seasonal pattern of RSV, resulting in high activity during the off-season. This study aims to evaluate the effects of the pandemic on the severity of RSV infections.
methodsData from 11,915 children hospitalized due to RSV infection between 2016 and 2022 were analyzed. The hospitalized patients were categorized into two groups, from January 2016 to February 2020 (PreCoV19 group) and from March 2020 to December 2022 (CoV19 group). The hospitalization duration, intensive care unit (ICU) admissions, length of stay at ICU, mechanical ventilation requirement and duration, Elixhauser comorbidity index scores, and in-hospital mortality were analyzed.
resultsChildren in the PreCoV19 group had a mean age of 0.4 ± 0.7, whereas those in the CoV19 group had a mean age of 0.6 ± 1.0 years. Children during the pandemic had significantly shorter hospital stays (4.3 ± 2.6 days) compared to children of the pre-pandemic period (4.9 ± 3.3 days). Although ICU admission rates did not change, the duration of ICU stays decreased in the CoV19 group. Moreover, the in-hospital mortality did not differ between the groups. A multivariable analysis showed that younger age, regardless of the pandemic period, was associated with prolonged hospital stays, higher ICU admission rates, and an increased requirement for mechanical ventilation.
conclusionOur findings highlight significant changes of the clinical characteristics of RSV infections during the pandemic, with implications for clinical management and public health strategies.
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