Respiratory syncytial virus and influenza hospitalizations in Danish children 2010-2016

Objective: To pave the way for universal or risk factor-based vaccination strategies, the present study aimed to describe the epidemiology and compare risk factors for hospitalization associated with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and influenza virus infections in Danish children. Methods: National register-based cohort study among 403,422 Danish children born 2010-2016. Results: Prior asthma hospitalization, number of children in the household, chronic disease and maternal history of asthma hospitalization were the most important risk factors for both RSV and influenza hospitalization. The incidence of influenza increased at school start. Conclusions: Our findings enable targeted vaccination programs for high-risk children with asthma-like disease, chronic disease, siblings in the household, or maternal history of asthma hospitalization. (c) 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

The study aimed to describe the epidemiology and compare risk factors for hospitalization associated with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and influenza virus infections in Danish children. It found that prior asthma hospitalization, number of children in the household, chronic disease, and maternal history of asthma hospitalization were the most important risk factors for both RSV and influenza hospitalization. The findings enable targeted vaccination programs for high-risk children with specific risk factors.