Retrospective Analysis of RSV Infection in Pediatric Patients: Epidemiology, Comorbidities, Treatment, and Costs in Dubai (2014-2023)

<b>Background:</b> Infections attributable to respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) are a major cause of hospitalization among young children worldwide. Despite substantial clinical and economic burden, real-world data associated with RSV infections in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are limited. <b>Objectives:</b> This study aimed to assess among children (<18 years) diagnosed with RSV the epidemiology, seasonality, comorbidities, treatment patterns, length of hospital stay, healthcare resource utilization (HCRU), and costs associated with pediatric infection in Dubai, UAE. <b>Methods:</b> This 10-year retrospective cohort study (Jan. 1, 2014-Sept. 30, 2023) utilized Dubai Real-World Database, a private insurance claims database. Patients aged <18 years with a first-episode diagnosis claim (primary or secondary, or a hospital admission) for RSV any time during the index period (Jan. 1, 2014-June 30, 2023) were included. Outcomes were analyzed during a 3-month follow-up. Patients were stratified into 3 cohorts: Cohort 1 (<2 years), Cohort 2 (2 to <6 years), and Cohort 3 (6 to <18 years). <b>Results:</b> Of 28 011 patients identified, 25 729 were aged <18 years with RSV infection. An increasing trend in reported cases was observed from 2014 to 2022, with an average annual increase of 55%. Half of study patients (49.3%) belonged to Cohort 1, with a mean age of 0.6 years, while less than 2% had known risk factors and 22% of the patients in cohort 1 were hospitalized. In Cohort 1, 32.0% had upper respiratory tract infections, 39.4% had lower respiratory tract infections, and 44.4% of patients had an "other respiratory disease." The average length of hospitalization was about 4 days across all cohorts. The total hospitalization cost was highest in patients <2 years, amounting to US <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><mml:mn>9</mml:mn> <mml:mrow><mml:mo> </mml:mo></mml:mrow> <mml:mn>798</mml:mn> <mml:mrow><mml:mo> </mml:mo></mml:mrow> <mml:mn>174</mml:mn> <mml:mo>(</mml:mo> <mml:mi>m</mml:mi> <mml:mi>e</mml:mi> <mml:mi>d</mml:mi> <mml:mi>i</mml:mi> <mml:mi>a</mml:mi> <mml:mi>n</mml:mi> <mml:mo>,</mml:mo> <mml:mi>U</mml:mi> <mml:mi>S</mml:mi></mml:math> 2241.30). <b>Conclusion:</b> Among the RSV patients, 49.3% were <2 years of age and few had recognized risk factors. Among patients <2 years, 22% were hospitalized, with an average hospital stay of 4 days; the cost of hospitalization totaled US $9 798 174. These findings can inform healthcare stakeholders about future policy measures and the need for effective preventive strategies.