Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) causes respiratory infections in young children, such as bronchitis (infection of the airways of the lungs resulting in cough, sore throat, phlegm), bronchiolitis or pneumonia. The symptoms associated with RSV infection could be more or less severe depending on, for example, the age of the patient or whether the patient had other health disorders or diseases. This study will use data already collected and available in the Clinical Practice Research Datalink (CPRD) in order to understand how RSV affects patients and how it impacts the National Health Service (NHS) by examining GP and hospital attendances, prescriptions for medication, deaths and the estimated costs to the NHS. It will also examine who is more at risk to develop severe disease associated with RSV, e.g., premature babies (born before 37 gestational weeks), children with heart and lung disease, or elderly populations. The results of this study will be published and presented at medical conferences, and could help determine which patients might benefit most from future strategies to prevent infection with this virus.
Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) is the most important cause of lower respiratory tract illness in young children worldwide and considered one of the world's greatest unmet vaccine needs. However, the current knowledge on the disease is insufficiently detailed to underpin evidence-based decision-making on new RSV prevention strategies and therapeutics. Estimating the national burden of disease due to RSV is not straightforward. A reliable diagnosis of RSV infection relies on the detection of RSV in respiratory secretions, but this laboratory testing is not mandatory. However, laboratory surveillance data exist in England and are used to evaluate temporal patterns of respiratory pathogens.
This study will estimate the RSV attributable burden of respiratory and cardiorespiratory disease in all age groups and certain risk groups (e.g. children and those chronic medical conditions) using population-level time-series modelling with laboratory surveillance data.
This study will also estimate the health care burden of respiratory tract infections (RTIs) likely due to RSV in young children (<5 years) (i.e. without laboratory confirmation). The healthcare burden will be based on GP episodes, prescriptions, secondary care contacts and mortality.
RSV-attributable burden of GP consultations for respiratory/cardiorespiratory diseases; RSV-attributable burden of hospitalisations for respiratory/cardiorespiratory diseases; RSV-attributable burden of outpatient visits of respiratory/cardiorespiratory diseases; RSV-attributable mortality for respiratory/cardiorespiratory diseases; Antibiotic prescription attributable to RSV.
GP consultations for respiratory tract infections (RTI); Hospitalisation for RTI; ICU admission for RTI; Outpatient visits for RTI; Death for RTI.
Caroline Amand - Chief Investigator - Sanofi Winthrop Industrie (France)
Sabine Tong - Corresponding Applicant - Sanofi Aventis Recherche & Développement (France)
Clarisse Demont - Collaborator - Sanofi Pasteur MSD ( closed )
Harry Campbell - Collaborator - University of Edinburgh
Rachel Reeves - Collaborator - University of Edinburgh
CPRD Mother-Baby Link;HES Admitted Patient Care;HES Outpatient;ONS Death Registration Data;Patient Level Index of Multiple Deprivation;Pregnancy Register