Al Imam Mahmudul Hassan, Goswami Reema, Bolck Caitlyn, Walker Jacina, Kirk Michael, Menzies Robert, Khandaker Gulam
Central Queensland Public Health Unit, Central Queensland Hospital and Health Service, Rockhampton.
School of Health, Medical and Applied Sciences, Central Queensland University, Rockhampton.
Commun Dis Intell (2018). 2025 May 19;49. doi: 10.33321/cdi.2025.49.041.
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a leading cause of acute lower respiratory tract infections, especially in infants and young children globally. Despite its impact, RSV testing and epidemiological data remain limited, particularly in regional Australia. Central Queensland, with its subtropical climate, provides a unique setting in which to study RSV trends, testing patterns, and associated hospital burden.
This study used hospital-based data to analyse RSV-related hospitalisations and testing from Central Queensland. Data were collected retrospectively between 2018 and 2021 and prospectively between 2022 and 2023. Eligible cases included individuals presenting to or admitted at any hospitals in Central Queensland with laboratory-confirmed RSV or RSV-related diagnoses based on ICD-10-AM codes. The analysis focused on RSV-related hospital admissions and hospitalisation outcomes. Incidence rate ratios (IRR) for hospitalisation rates between the two periods were calculated.
Between 2018 and 2023, there were 1,279 RSV-related hospitalisations, with 53.2% of cases being male. Infants under 12 months accounted for the highest proportion of admissions (38.4%). RSV-related hospitalisations peaked during the prospective study period, rising from 123 in 2018 to 357 in 2023. The hospitalisation rate among infants was significantly higher in the prospective study period compared to the retrospective study period (IRR: 2.2; 95% confidence interval [95% CI]: 1.8-2.6; p < 0.001). The Indigenous population had a significantly higher hospitalisation rate than the non-Indigenous population over the whole study period (IRR: 3.1; 95% CI: 2.7-3.6; p < 0.001). The median length of stay was two days, with 20.6% of those hospitalised requiring ventilation, 2.2% needing intensive care unit (ICU) support, and 0.9% of hospitalisations resulting in death. Mortality was highest among those aged 60 years and above (91.7%). Although infants under 12 months had the lowest RSV testing rates (9.8%), they had the highest test positivity rate (16.4%).
RSV admissions have been under-reported due to limited testing. Increased awareness and widespread testing during prospective surveillance revealed a significant rise in RSV-related admissions. These findings underscore the need for enhanced RSV testing, improved resource allocation, and expanded immunisation efforts to effectively manage the burden of RSV.
呼吸道合胞病毒（RSV）是全球急性下呼吸道感染的主要病因，尤其在婴幼儿中。尽管其影响重大，但RSV检测和流行病学数据仍然有限，特别是在澳大利亚地区。昆士兰中部拥有亚热带气候，为研究RSV趋势、检测模式及相关医院负担提供了独特的环境。
本研究使用基于医院的数据来分析昆士兰中部与RSV相关的住院情况和检测情况。数据于2018年至2021年进行回顾性收集，并于2022年至2023年进行前瞻性收集。符合条件的病例包括在昆士兰中部任何医院就诊或入院的个体，这些个体经实验室确诊为RSV或根据ICD - 10 - AM编码确诊为与RSV相关的诊断。分析重点为与RSV相关的住院情况和住院结局。计算了两个时期住院率的发病率比（IRR）。
2018年至2023年期间，共有1279例与RSV相关的住院病例，其中53.2%为男性。12个月以下的婴儿占入院病例的比例最高（38.4%）。与RSV相关的住院病例在前瞻性研究期间达到峰值，从2018年的123例增至2023年的357例。与回顾性研究期间相比，前瞻性研究期间婴儿的住院率显著更高（IRR：2.2；95%置信区间[95%CI]：1.8 - 2.6；p < 0.001）。在整个研究期间，原住民的住院率显著高于非原住民（IRR：3.1；95%CI：2.7 - 3.6；p < 0.001）。中位住院时间为两天，20.6%的住院患者需要通气，2.2%需要重症监护病房（ICU）支持，0.9%的住院病例导致死亡。60岁及以上人群的死亡率最高（91.7%）。尽管12个月以下的婴儿RSV检测率最低（9.8%），但他们的检测阳性率最高（16.4%）。
由于检测有限，RSV住院病例报告不足。前瞻性监测期间意识的提高和广泛检测显示与RSV相关的住院病例显著增加。这些发现强调了加强RSV检测、改善资源分配和扩大免疫接种工作以有效管理RSV负担的必要性。
