Incidence of respiratory syncytial virus in adults ≥50 years during and following the COVID-19 pandemic in upper midwest USA: a community-based prospective cohort study.
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is an important viral pathogen in children, older adults and adults with certain high-risk conditions. In our prospective community-based cohort study of adults 50 years and older before the COVID-19 pandemic, the incidence of RSV acute respiratory infection (ARI) was 48.6 cases/1000 person-years (PY), which decreased to near zero during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our objective was to determine the incidence of RSV-ARI during the 2 years following the initial phase of the pandemic (2021-2022 and 2022-2023).
This is a community-based prospective cohort study.
Adults living in southeast Minnesota from October 2021 to September 2022 (year 3) and October 2022 to September 2023 (year 4).
Adults≥50 years (n=2500).
We calculated incidence and attack rates for RSV-ARI as primary outcome and reported hospitalisations, pneumonia and death following ARI as secondary outcome.
There were 2500 participants in the study with a mean age of 68.2 years (SD 9.3) at the start of year 3. Participants were predominantly female (60%), non-Hispanic white (96%) and residing in urban areas (76%). The incidence rate of RSV-ARI was 6.12/1000 PY (95% CI 3.42 to 10.09) in 2021-2022 and 16.40/1000 PY (95% CI 11.66 to 22.42) in 2022-2023. We noted higher attack rates of RSV-ARI during the winter months. There were no hospitalisations, pneumonia or deaths within 30 days of RSV-ARI.
Compared with the period before the COVID-19 pandemic, RSV-ARI incidence was lower in both 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 periods. In 2022-2023, the incidence increased 2.7-fold compared with the 2021-2022 period. The observed incidence rates, particularly the significant increase in the most recent season, underscore the continued public health relevance of RSV-ARI and support the rationale for ongoing RSV vaccination efforts to mitigate its overall burden in the population.
This is a community-based prospective cohort study.
Adults living in southeast Minnesota from October 2021 to September 2022 (year 3) and October 2022 to September 2023 (year 4).
Adults≥50 years (n=2500).
We calculated incidence and attack rates for RSV-ARI as primary outcome and reported hospitalisations, pneumonia and death following ARI as secondary outcome.
There were 2500 participants in the study with a mean age of 68.2 years (SD 9.3) at the start of year 3. Participants were predominantly female (60%), non-Hispanic white (96%) and residing in urban areas (76%). The incidence rate of RSV-ARI was 6.12/1000 PY (95% CI 3.42 to 10.09) in 2021-2022 and 16.40/1000 PY (95% CI 11.66 to 22.42) in 2022-2023. We noted higher attack rates of RSV-ARI during the winter months. There were no hospitalisations, pneumonia or deaths within 30 days of RSV-ARI.
Compared with the period before the COVID-19 pandemic, RSV-ARI incidence was lower in both 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 periods. In 2022-2023, the incidence increased 2.7-fold compared with the 2021-2022 period. The observed incidence rates, particularly the significant increase in the most recent season, underscore the continued public health relevance of RSV-ARI and support the rationale for ongoing RSV vaccination efforts to mitigate its overall burden in the population.
Authors
Takahashi Takahashi, Saeedi Saeedi, Wi Wi, Pignolo Pignolo, Bosch Bosch, King King, Hickman Hickman, Ryu Ryu, Natoli Natoli, Ihrke Ihrke, Yao Yao, Binnicker Binnicker, Sieler Sieler, Speiser Speiser, Hidaka Hidaka, Damaso Damaso, Pircon Pircon, Juhn Juhn
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