RESPIRATORY SYNCYTIAL VIRUS (RSV) BURDEN AMONG HOSPITALIZED CHILDREN <5 YEARS AND ASSESSMENT OF VACCINE INTRODUCTION IN PALESTINE: A 5-YEAR RETROSPECTIVE COHORT STUDY
Date
2026-05-12
Authors
Ihab K. Hemieid
Yousef Sajdieh
Philip Abu Mohor
Yousef Alhroub
Mohammad Khalawi
Aws Horoub
Musa Y Hindiyeh
Balqees Mohamad
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Deanship of Scientific Research - Al-Quds University
Abstract
Background: Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) is the leading cause of acute lower respiratory tract infection in infants and young children — a pathogen that disproportionately affects low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), where 97% of attributable deaths occur. In the West Bank, Palestine, data on the local clinical and economic impact of RSV remain scarce. Study Purpose/
Objectives: To quantify the clinical and financial burden of RSV infection among hospitalized children aged 0–60 months at a tertiary pediatric referral center in the West Bank; to characterize seasonal patterns, clinical features, and treatment practices; and to identify independent predictors of severe clinical course.
Methods: This study is a single-center retrospective cohort study conducted at Caritas Baby Hospital. We included 2292 consecutively sampled, laboratory-confirmed RSV admissions (via direct fluorescent antibody) from June 30, 2021, until July 31, 2025. Fifty-nine variables were categorized into sociodemographic characteristics, clinical features, risk factors, and hospital resource utilization. For clinical severity modeling, a severe course was defined as a composite of intensive care unit admission, mechanical ventilation, in-hospital mortality, or prolonged hospitalization exceeding the 75th percentile of the burden subset (> 6 days). Descriptive analyses, chi-square/Fisher exact tests, Mann-Whitney U/Kruskal-Wallis tests, and multivariable logistic regression were used.