Rapid weight gain in early life is associated with severity of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) bronchiolitis in children

Abstract

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate whether rapid weight gain in early life was associated with the severity of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) bronchiolitis in children.Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 190 patients (1–24 months) hospitalized for RSV bronchiolitis. Parameters of bronchiolitis severity were compared between rapid (change in weight z-score from birth >0.67, n = 65) and normal weight gain groups (n = 125). We assessed for correlations between bronchiolitis severity and weight gain. Linear regression was performed to predict for bronchiolitis severity based on weight gain, controlling for covariates. SPSS was used for statistical analyses.Results: The rapid weight gain group had longer mean durations of tachypnea (2.3±2.0 vs. 1.7±1.8 days, P = 0.027), wheezing (3.2±2.5 vs. 1.6±1.8 days, P < 0.001), and chest retractions (1.5±2.2 vs. 0.6±1.3 days, P = 0.007). Correlations of weight gain with tachypnea (r = 0.146), wheezing (r = 0.279), and chest retractions (r = 0.179) were statistically significant. Weight gain predicted for tachypnea (B = 0.485, P = 0.013) and wheezing (B = 0.846, P = 0.001) durations after adjusting for covariates of severity (age, sex, current weight, RSV type, coin-fection, recurrent bronchiolitis, hospital stay, fever, oxygen supplementation, maximal respi-ratory and heart rates, and laboratory indices).Conclusions: Our findings suggest an association between weight gain and severity of RSV bronchiolitis in young children. Weight gain was significantly associated with the durations of tachypnea and wheezing. The trajectory of weight gain in early life may play a significant role in the clinical course of RSV bronchiolitis.

Special Delivery—Metabolic Bariatric Surgery as a Key Component of Maternal-Fetal Health Care

“…However, recent work has demonstrated that rapid weight gain in infancy is an associated risk factor for the incidence and severity of bronchiolitis. 8 It is possible that the post-MBS cohort with the higher incidence of SGA also experienced more rapid early weight gain, but this remains speculative. Based on these results, further focused work with more granular data can now be performed to examine this potentially concerning association.…”

“…This finding is also interesting and somewhat counterintuitive, as numerous studies have identified obesity as a prime risk factor for bronchiolitis incidence and severity. However, recent work has demonstrated that rapid weight gain in infancy is an associated risk factor for the incidence and severity of bronchiolitis . It is possible that the post-MBS cohort with the higher incidence of SGA also experienced more rapid early weight gain, but this remains speculative.…”