Economic Impact of Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections in Children Under 5 Years of Age Attending Primary Care in Italy: A Prospective Cohort Study in Two Regions

IF 4.3 4区医学 Q1 INFECTIOUS DISEASES Influenza and Other Respiratory Viruses Pub Date : 2025-02-02 DOI:10.1111/irv.70074

Valérie D. V. Sankatsing, Jojanneke van Summeren, Fasika Molla Abreha, Elisabetta Pandolfi, Maria Chironna, Daniela Loconsole, Rolf Kramer, John Paget, Caterina Rizzo

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Abstract

Background

Accurate cost estimates of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infections in primary care are limited, despite the majority of cases being managed in this setting. This study aims to estimate healthcare costs for children with RSV in primary care and the related costs of parental work absence.

Methods

Children < 5 years of age with symptoms of acute respiratory infections were recruited via primary care paediatricians in two Italian regions for a prospective cohort study on the RSV burden in primary care, during the 2019/2020 winter. Healthcare utilization, medication use and parental work absence were assessed during a 14-day follow-up period. Average costs were estimated per RSV episode for the overall study population, as well as per age group.

Results

Two hundred ninety three children were recruited, of which 119 tested RSV positive (41%) and 109 were included. In total, 89% of RSV-positive children (97/109) had ≥ 1 repeat paediatrician visit(s), and 10% (11/109) visited the ED. The mean number of repeat visits was 3.8 (SD: 4.0) and the mean duration of work absence 4.0 days (SD: 5.0). Average costs per RSV episode were €730 (95% CI: €691–€771), with direct medical costs accounting for 25% (€183 [95% CI: €174–€191]) and indirect costs related to work absence for 75% (€547 [95% CI: €509–€587]).

Conclusions

Costs associated with RSV infections in young children in primary care are considerable due to a substantial number of paediatrician visits and high rates of parental work absence. These costs are important to include in decision-making regarding the implementation of new RSV immunization strategies in national immunization programmes.

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来源期刊

Influenza and Other Respiratory Viruses 医学-病毒学

CiteScore

7.20

自引率

4.50%

发文量

120

审稿时长

6-12 weeks

期刊介绍： Influenza and Other Respiratory Viruses is the official journal of the International Society of Influenza and Other Respiratory Virus Diseases - an independent scientific professional society - dedicated to promoting the prevention, detection, treatment, and control of influenza and other respiratory virus diseases. Influenza and Other Respiratory Viruses is an Open Access journal. Copyright on any research article published by Influenza and Other Respiratory Viruses is retained by the author(s). Authors grant Wiley a license to publish the article and identify itself as the original publisher. Authors also grant any third party the right to use the article freely as long as its integrity is maintained and its original authors, citation details and publisher are identified.