Five Years’ Experience with Respiratory Syncytial Virus Among Hospitalized Patients: A Retrospective Study from Jazan, Saudi Arabia

Nabil S Dhayhi,1,* Ali Aqeel,2,* Salman Ghazwani,3 Ibrahim M Gosadi,4 Haleemah Mohammed AlQassimi,5 Abdullah Thubab,6 Ibrahim Abdullah Sairam,6 Majed Ahmed Hakami,6 Fahd Ahmed Sawan,6 Sabreen Mohammed Asiry,7 Mawahib Khalifa,7 Hadi Daghreeri,8 Ahmed Badawy,2 Afrah Abdulrahman Ghawi,9 Haidar Arishi,1 Ali Almudeer,2 Khalid J Shrwani,10 Abdulaziz H Alhazmi11,12 1Department of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, King Fahd Central Hospital, Jazan, 45142, Saudi Arabia; 2Department of Neonatology, King Fahd Central Hospital, Jazan, 45142, Saudi Arabia; 3Department of Pediatric Surgery, King Fahd Central Hospital, Jazan, 45142, Saudi Arabia; 4Department of Family and Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Jazan University, Jazan, 45142, Saudi Arabia; 5Department of Pediatric Intensive Care, King Fahd Central Hospital, Jazan, 45142, Saudi Arabia; 6Department of Public Health, King Fahd Central Hospital, Jazan, 45142, Saudi Arabia; 7Department of Pediatric, King Fahd Central Hospital, Jazan, 45142, Saudi Arabia; 8Department of Family Medicine, Directorate General of Health Affairs, Jazan, 45142, Saudi Arabia; 9Department of Pulmonology, King Fahd Central Hospital, Jazan, 45142, Saudi Arabia; 10Public Health Authority, Jazan, 45142, Saudi Arabia; 11Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Jazan University, Jazan, 45142, Saudi Arabia; 12Health Sciences Research Center, Jazan University, Jazan, 45142, Saudi Arabia*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Abdulaziz H Alhazmi, Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Jazan University, Jazan, 45142, Saudi Arabia, Email [email protected]: RSV is a common seasonal cause of respiratory infections in children and potentially adults and is considered a major cause of mortality and morbidity. While several studies on RSV have been conducted in Saudi Arabia, none have specifically focused on the southwestern region, where distinct climatic and demographic factors may influence RSV pattern. The current study aims to describe five years of experience with RSV cases among hospitalized patients and factors associated with intensive care admission from a tertiary hospital.Materials and Methods: The study adopts a retrospective observational design, focusing on suspected respiratory infection cases confirmed by rapid RSV antigen tests from 2015 to 2020. Data including age, sex, comorbidities, and outcomes were collected from a tertiary hospital’s medical records and microbiology laboratory files. Data were analyzed using a t-test and chi-square test.Results: Among 195 participants, primarily pediatric, monthly, and yearly admissions varied. Monthly variations revealed a U-shaped pattern with most cases reported during January, with a decline in 2020. Oxygen support was required for 40% of cases, and comorbidities were observed in 49.23%. Associations between ICU admission and factors like age, gestational age, ventilation, comorbidities, and length of stay were significant.Conclusion: RSV infection is one of the important causes of morbidity and intensive care admission among infants and young children in Saudi Arabia. As reported by others, the seasonality of RSV is evident. Despite higher prevalence in a younger population, physicians should consider RSV in adults and older patients. Further national studies are required for a better estimation of the RSV burden on the country.Keywords: RSV, respiratory infections, children, Saudi Arabia, Jazan