Epidemiology of respiratory syncytial virus infection and its effect on children with heart disease in Hong Kong: a multicentre review

• Published in: Hong Kong medical journal = Xianggang yi xue za zhi 2019-10, Vol.25 (5), p.363-371
• Main Authors: Lee, S H, Hon, K L, Chiu, W K, Ting, Y W, Lam, S Y
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Age Distribution; Child; Child, Preschool; Female; Heart Defects, Congenital - mortality; Heart Defects, Congenital - virology; Hong Kong - epidemiology; Humans; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Intensive Care Units, Pediatric; Length of Stay - statistics & numerical data; Linear Models; Male; Respiration, Artificial; Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections - mortality; Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections - therapy; Retrospective Studies; Risk Factors; Seasons
• ISSN: 1024-2708
• DOI: 10.12809/hkmj197903

There is no guideline in Hong Kong regarding respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) immunoprophylaxis for children with heart disease because of a lack of local data on RSV infection. Therefore, this study evaluated the epidemiology and impact of RSV infection on children with heart disease in Hong Kong, with the goal of providing recommendations regarding RSV immunoprophylaxis. This multicentre retrospective case-control study on paediatric RSV infection was conducted in four local regional hospitals from 2013 to 2015. The patients' demographic and clinical data were retrieved and analysed. There were 3538 RSV hospitalisations during the study period, and the mortality rate was 0.14%. Some RSV seasonality was present in Hong Kong, primarily in spring and summer. Respiratory syncytial virus infection was positively correlated with relative humidity and negatively correlated with wind speed and atmospheric pressure. Patients with heart disease had a more severe outcome than those without, including longer median hospital stay (4 vs 2 days, P