889. The age of RSV cases changes consistently over the course of annual epidemics: potential insights into RSV transmission dynamics based on surveillance data from seven countries

• Published in: Open forum infectious diseases 2023-11, Vol.10 (Supplement_2)
• Main Authors: Casalegno, Jean-Sebastien, Rodrigues, Ana Paula, Lee, Vernon, Cohen, Cheryl, Sue Huang, Q, Caicedo, Alfredo Bruno, Guiomar, Raquel, Ang, Li Wei, Cook, Tim, de Mora, Domenica, Bangert, Mathieu, Kramer, Rolf, Staadegaard, Lisa, Heemskerk, Susanne, van Summeren, Jojanneke, Meijer, Adam, Paget, John, Caini, Saverio, Teirlinck, Anne
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 2328-8957; 2328-8957
• DOI: 10.1093/ofid/ofad500.934

Abstract Background RSV infections affects people of all ages but the seasonality of RSV among different age groups have not been thoroughly examined. In this study, we investigated changes in the age distribution of RSV cases during the course of annual epidemics. Methods We analyzed surveillance data (2008-2019) from the Netherlands, the city of Lyon (France), Portugal, Singapore, Ecuador, South Africa, and New Zealand using the Global Epidemiology of RSV (GERi) study database. We defined annual RSV seasons as the period from July to June in the Northern hemisphere, or the calendar year in the tropics and Southern hemisphere. Within each season, we divided the data into “epidemic quartiles”, corresponding to each quartile of RSV cases in the season. We used multilevel multinomial logistic regression models with season as the higher-level variable to assess whether the likelihood of RSV cases being aged < 1 year or ≥5 years (vs. those aged 1 to < 5 years) changed over time during the season. Results A total of 27,391 RSV cases were included. Across all countries, the odds of RSV cases being aged < 1 year (vs. 1 to < 5 years) were significantly higher in the fourth epidemic quartile compared to the first quartile; the relative risk ratio (RRR) ranged between 1.35 in Lyon, France, and 2.56 in the Netherlands. Similarly, the odds of RSV cases being aged ≥5 years (vs. 1 to < 5 years) were significantly higher in the fourth epidemic quartile compared to the first quartile (except in Singapore); the RRR ranged from 1.75 in Ecuador to 6.70 in Lyon, France. The results were consistent when stratifying the data by level of care (primary vs. secondary) or using a lower cut-off of six months of age. Conclusion The age distribution of RSV cases changes over the course of a season, with infants (< 1 year) and older children (≥5 years), adults, and elderly people constituting a higher proportion of RSV cases in the later phases of annual epidemics. These findings provide potential insights into the transmission dynamics of RSV and may inform prevention and control measures, e.g. the implementation of targeted age-specific interventions. Funding: This research was funded by a collaborative agreement with Sanofi / AstraZeneca and is part of the RODEO research program for RSV disease. Disclosures Mathieu Bangert, PhD, Sanofi: Staff member Rolf Kramer, n/a, Sanofi: Stocks/Bonds John Paget, n/a, Sanofi Pasteur: Grant/Research Support