Trends in proportions of respiratory syncytial virus infections among
reported respiratory tract infection cases in children aged 0 to 5 years
in Western Pacific and Southeast Asia Regions: A systematic review and
meta-analysis
Abstract
Background: Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is an important
cause of bronchiolitis and pneumonia in children globally. This study
aimed to incorporate new data to update estimates of RSV burden in
children through 5 years of age in Western Pacific and Southeast Asia
Regions. Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis was
conducted to examine the proportion of RSV among cases of respiratory
tract infection (RTI) in children in Western Pacific and Southeast Asia
Regions using random effects models. Studies were eligible if they met
the following inclusion criteria: (1) observational studies such as
cohort and cross-sectional studies; (2) studies on humans; (3) studies
on patients with respiratory tract infection (RTI) or influenza-like
illness (ILI); (4) studies reporting incidence or proportion of RSV
infection among respiratory related illness; and (5) studies on children
aged 5 years or less. Findings: A total of 4,403 studies were
identified from an initial search. After screening titles, abstracts,
and full-text review, a total of 173 studies that met predefined
eligibility criteria were included in the analysis. The overall
proportion of RSV infections among all ARTIs was 18.7% (95% CI:
16.0-21.5%), while the proportion of RSV infections among LRTIs was
28.7% (95% CI: 2.6-30.3) in children in Western Pacific and Southeast
Asia Regions between 1970 and 2021. The proportion trend increased from
10.6% (95% CI: 2.90-22.2%) in the 1970s to 26.8% (95% CI:
22.0-31.9%) in the 1980s and 33.3% (95% CI :14.7-55.3%) in the
1990s. It then decreased to 25.0% (95% CI 22.8-27.3%) in the 2000s
and 19.7% (95% CI 17.3-22.2%) in the 2010s. By country, Myanmar
(50.0%; 95% CI, 47.5-52.4%) and New Zealand (45.3%; 95% CI,
37.2-56.4%) had the highest proportion during the overall time period,
followed by Bhutan (45.2%; 95% CI, 36.4-54.3%), Lao PDR (41.0%; 95%
CI, 36.2-46.0%), and Vietnam (36.0%; 95% CI, 19.3-53.6%).
Interpretation: Substantial RSV-associated disease burden occurs
in children in Western Pacific and Southeast Asia Regions. Our findings
provide new and important evidence of the need for RSV prevention in
Western Pacific and Southeast Asia countries. They could inform future
preventive policy.