To quantify and describe RSV episodes diagnosed outside of the typical RSV season compared to those diagnosed during the typical season across the United States, focusing on specific metrics such as incidence rates and demographic factors.
Key Findings:
Identified 141,427 in-season and 3,756 off-season RSV episodes among children, and 41,735 in-season and 1,243 off-season episodes among adults.
60% of pediatric episodes were infants; Black and Hispanic patients were over-represented in off-season episodes.
Higher proportion of off-season pediatric episodes included antibiotics (54% vs 45%) and were more likely to involve patients with congenital or chronic conditions.
Interpretation:
Disparities in RSV episodes based on race, ethnicity, and underlying health conditions were evident, particularly in off-season cases, highlighting the need for targeted public health strategies.
Limitations:
Data limited to hospital encounters and may not represent all RSV cases, potentially underestimating the true incidence.
Potential misclassification of seasonality despite narrow definitions of in-season and off-season, which could affect the accuracy of findings.
Conclusion:
Understanding RSV epidemiology, especially off-season episodes, is crucial for effective public health interventions as preventive measures become available, emphasizing the need for ongoing surveillance.
