A new study reveals that young children with chronic conditions are significantly more likely to be hospitalized for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) compared to their healthy counterparts. Conducted by researchers from the University of British Columbia in Canada, the study indicates that toddlers with chronic health issues are hospitalized for RSV at twice the rate of healthy toddlers.
The highest risk was observed among children born very prematurely (under 28 weeks of gestation) or those with conditions that affect multiple organs, including the lungs, heart, or digestive system.
Researchers urge that children with these specific chronic conditions should receive immunization against RSV during their first season for enhanced protection, even if their mothers were vaccinated. Current guidelines recommend that pregnant women receive the vaccine before birth to help pass on antibodies to their infants.
“Our research shows that many children with chronic conditions need seasonal RSV immunization beyond what maternal vaccination can provide,” stated Marina Vineta Paramo, a graduate student at the Faculty of Medicine. “It expands the definition of high-risk groups to include other children with chronic conditions who could equally benefit from RSV immunization, up to two years of age.”
The study analyzed data from 431,937 infants born in British Columbia, Canada, between 2013 and 2023, including 25,452 infants with chronic health conditions. Approximately 4,567 children experienced a total of 4,593 hospitalizations during their first and second RSV seasons.
Findings indicated that children with chronic medical conditions had significantly longer hospital stays and pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) admissions, and they required more mechanical ventilation compared to healthy children. In the second RSV season, hospitalization rates were notably higher for children with chronic conditions than in the first season, particularly if their conditions impacted the respiratory, cardiovascular, or gastrointestinal systems, involved congenital anomalies, or affected multiple body systems, including Down syndrome.
This important research will be presented at the Paediatric Academic Societies (PAS) 2025 meeting, taking place from April 24-28 in Honolulu, Hawaii.