Early Impact of Social Distancing in Response to Coronavirus Disease 2019 on Hospitalizations for Acute Bronchiolitis in Infants in Brazil

Abstract

Background Interventions to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic may affect the burden of other respiratory diseases. Considering the repercussion of these unique social experiences in infant’s health, this study aims to assess the early impact of social distancing due to the COVID-19 pandemic in hospital admissions for acute bronchiolitis. Methods Data from hospitalizations of acute bronchiolitis in infants under one year were obtained from the Department of Informatics of the Brazilian Public Health database (DATASUS) for the period between 2016 and 2020. These data were also analyzed by macro-regions of Brazil (North, Northeast, Southeast, South and Midwest). To evaluate the effect of social distancing strategy on the incidence of acute bronchiolitis, the absolute and relative reduction was calculated by analyzing the yearly subsets of 2016vs2020, 2017vs2020, 2018vs2020, and 2019vs2020. Results There was a significant reduction in all comparisons, ranging from -78% [IRR 0.22 (0.20 to 0.24)] in 2016vs2020 at -85% [IRR 0.15 (0.13 to 0.16)] in 2019vs2020, for the data from Brazil. For analyzes by macro-regions, the reduction varied from -58% [IRR 0.41 (0.37 to 0.45)] in the Midwest in 2016vs2020 to -93% [IRR 0.07 (0.06 to 0.08)] in the South in 2019vs2020. Conclusions There was a significant reduction in hospitalization for acute bronchiolitis in children under one year old, in Brazil, of the order of more than 70% for most analysis. Our data suggest an important impact of social distance on reducing the transmission of viruses related to acute bronchiolitis. Such knowledge may guide strategies for prevention of viruses spread.

Trends in US Pediatric Hospital Admissions in 2020 Compared With the Decade Before the COVID-19 Pandemic

“… 3 , 8 Although COVID-19 has resulted in relatively few pediatric hospitalizations, 1 , 9 , 10 early reports indicate that it may have been associated with reduced pediatric admission rates in the United States 11 and worldwide. 12 , 13 A 2020 study from Brazil, 14 in which regional differences contributed to peak bronchiolitis between February and August, showed a 78% to 85% reduction in hospitalization in infants younger than 1 year for acute bronchiolitis in 2020 compared with previous years.…”

Absence of detection of RSV and influenza during the COVID-19 pandemic in a Brazilian cohort: Likely role of lower transmission in the community

“…The pattern of RSV was similar, with a significant reduction in the number of hospitalized cases with acute viral bronchiolitis throughout the whole country. In our region hospital admissions for infants were 85% lower than in the previous years [ 14 ]. Although the local social distancing index varied between 34.2% and almost 60% from March to August, schools and daycare centers remained closed throughout this period.…”

Bronchiolitis in COVID-19 times: a nearly absent disease?

“…However, the yearly wave of bronchiolitis admissions was virtually absent in 2020. In Brazil-where the bronchiolitis season is already overscientists reported a similar unprecedented 70% reduction in hospitalization for acute bronchiolitis in children under one year old [10].…”