Hospitalizations for bronchiolitis among infants before and after the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic: an area-based study of the Emilia-Romagna Region, Italy
Abstract Background Bronchiolitis is the most frequent lower respiratory tract infection and a leading cause of hospitalization in infants. Our aim was to assess the incidence and characteristics of bronchiolitis requiring hospital admission in an Italian region before and after the SARS-CoV-2 pande...
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2025-02-01
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| Series: | Italian Journal of Pediatrics |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13052-025-01871-6 |
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| author | Elisa Ballardini Marco Manfrini Silvia Fattori Elena Pellacani Branislava Ćosić Giancarlo Gargano Alberto Berardi |
| author_facet | Elisa Ballardini Marco Manfrini Silvia Fattori Elena Pellacani Branislava Ćosić Giancarlo Gargano Alberto Berardi |
| author_sort | Elisa Ballardini |
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| description | Abstract Background Bronchiolitis is the most frequent lower respiratory tract infection and a leading cause of hospitalization in infants. Our aim was to assess the incidence and characteristics of bronchiolitis requiring hospital admission in an Italian region before and after the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. Methods This area-based retrospective study analyses 4,396 hospital discharge records (HDR) of children under 1 year of age admitted with a diagnosis of bronchiolitis (ICD9-CM codes 466.11 and 466.19), in Emilia-Romagna (Italy) from January1st, 2018 to December 31th, 2021. Weighted t-testing and Z-testing was carried out. Results in the study period, 2–4% of infants were admitted for bronchiolitis (10% of all admissions under 1 year) and 59% of them were aged less than 90 days. After a significant decrease in 2020, bronchiolitis resurged in 2021, and Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) cases reached 82%. RSV cases were more likely to undergo non-invasive ventilation (NIV), oxygen supplementation and to receive i.v. (intravenous) infusions. There was an overall increasing trend in NIV and oxygen supplementation, and a decreasing trend in chest X-rays. Conclusions This area-based study shows reduced hospital admissions due to bronchiolitis during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic and a resurgence of RSV infection after the easing of preventive measures. We also provide information on length of stay and need for hospital treatments. These area-based information will be helpful in assessing the impact of future universal prevention measures. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-02ee39e144014ca3898e7bb8ff635574 |
| institution | Kabale University |
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| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Italian Journal of Pediatrics |
| spelling | doaj-art-02ee39e144014ca3898e7bb8ff6355742025-02-09T12:48:02ZengBMCItalian Journal of Pediatrics1824-72882025-02-015111810.1186/s13052-025-01871-6Hospitalizations for bronchiolitis among infants before and after the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic: an area-based study of the Emilia-Romagna Region, ItalyElisa Ballardini0Marco Manfrini1Silvia Fattori2Elena Pellacani3Branislava Ćosić4Giancarlo Gargano5Alberto Berardi6Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Dept. of Medical Sciences, University Hospital of Ferrara, IMER Registry (Emilia Romagna Registry of Birth Defects), University of FerraraIMER Registry (Emilia Romagna Registry of Birth Defects), University Hospital of FerraraPediatric Postgraduate School, University of FerraraPediatric Postgraduate School, University of Modena and Reggio EmiliaPediatric Postgraduate School, University of Modena and Reggio EmiliaNeonatal Intensive Care Unit, Azienda Unità Sanitaria Locale-IRCCSNeonatal Intensive Care Unit, Policlinico University HospitalAbstract Background Bronchiolitis is the most frequent lower respiratory tract infection and a leading cause of hospitalization in infants. Our aim was to assess the incidence and characteristics of bronchiolitis requiring hospital admission in an Italian region before and after the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. Methods This area-based retrospective study analyses 4,396 hospital discharge records (HDR) of children under 1 year of age admitted with a diagnosis of bronchiolitis (ICD9-CM codes 466.11 and 466.19), in Emilia-Romagna (Italy) from January1st, 2018 to December 31th, 2021. Weighted t-testing and Z-testing was carried out. Results in the study period, 2–4% of infants were admitted for bronchiolitis (10% of all admissions under 1 year) and 59% of them were aged less than 90 days. After a significant decrease in 2020, bronchiolitis resurged in 2021, and Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) cases reached 82%. RSV cases were more likely to undergo non-invasive ventilation (NIV), oxygen supplementation and to receive i.v. (intravenous) infusions. There was an overall increasing trend in NIV and oxygen supplementation, and a decreasing trend in chest X-rays. Conclusions This area-based study shows reduced hospital admissions due to bronchiolitis during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic and a resurgence of RSV infection after the easing of preventive measures. We also provide information on length of stay and need for hospital treatments. These area-based information will be helpful in assessing the impact of future universal prevention measures.https://doi.org/10.1186/s13052-025-01871-6BronchiolitisRespiratory syncytial virusSARS-CoV-2InfantsEpidemiologyHospitalization |
| spellingShingle | Elisa Ballardini Marco Manfrini Silvia Fattori Elena Pellacani Branislava Ćosić Giancarlo Gargano Alberto Berardi Hospitalizations for bronchiolitis among infants before and after the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic: an area-based study of the Emilia-Romagna Region, Italy Italian Journal of Pediatrics Bronchiolitis Respiratory syncytial virus SARS-CoV-2 Infants Epidemiology Hospitalization |
| title | Hospitalizations for bronchiolitis among infants before and after the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic: an area-based study of the Emilia-Romagna Region, Italy |
| title_full | Hospitalizations for bronchiolitis among infants before and after the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic: an area-based study of the Emilia-Romagna Region, Italy |
| title_fullStr | Hospitalizations for bronchiolitis among infants before and after the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic: an area-based study of the Emilia-Romagna Region, Italy |
| title_full_unstemmed | Hospitalizations for bronchiolitis among infants before and after the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic: an area-based study of the Emilia-Romagna Region, Italy |
| title_short | Hospitalizations for bronchiolitis among infants before and after the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic: an area-based study of the Emilia-Romagna Region, Italy |
| title_sort | hospitalizations for bronchiolitis among infants before and after the sars cov 2 pandemic an area based study of the emilia romagna region italy |
| topic | Bronchiolitis Respiratory syncytial virus SARS-CoV-2 Infants Epidemiology Hospitalization |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13052-025-01871-6 |
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