The impact of the COVID‐19 pandemic on respiratory morbidity during infancy: A birth‐cohort study

Rosenfeld, Nataly; Mandelberg, Avigdor; Dalal, Ilan; Tasher, Diana; Kamar, Alma; Schnapper, Michael; Domany, Keren Armoni

doi:10.1002/ppul.25822

Cited by 4 publications

References 38 publications

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Population Attributable Risk of Wheeze in 2–<6-Year-old Children, Following a Respiratory Syncytial Virus Lower Respiratory Tract Infection in The First 2 Years of Life

Madhi,

Ceballos,

Cousin

et al. 2024

Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal

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Background: There is limited evidence regarding the proportion of wheeze in young children attributable to respiratory syncytial virus lower respiratory tract infections (RSV-LRTI) occurring early in life. This cohort study prospectively determined the population attributable risk (PAR) and risk percent (PAR%) of wheeze in 2–<6-year-old children previously surveilled in a primary study for RSV-LRTI from birth to their second birthday (RSV-LRTI<2Y). Methods: From 2013 to 2021, 2-year-old children from 8 countries were enrolled in this extension study (NCT01995175) and were followed through quarterly surveillance contacts until their sixth birthday for the occurrence of parent-reported wheeze, medically-attended wheeze or recurrent wheeze episodes (≥4 episodes/year). PAR% was calculated as PAR divided by the cumulative incidence of wheeze in all participants. Results: Of 1395 children included in the analyses, 126 had documented RSV-LRTI<2Y. Cumulative incidences were higher for reported (38.1% vs. 13.6%), medically-attended (30.2% vs. 11.8%) and recurrent wheeze outcomes (4.0% vs. 0.6%) in participants with RSV-LRTI<2Y than those without RSV-LRTI<2Y. The PARs for all episodes of reported, medically-attended and recurrent wheeze were 22.2, 16.6 and 3.1 per 1000 children, corresponding to PAR% of 14.1%, 12.3% and 35.9%. In univariate analyses, all 3 wheeze outcomes were strongly associated with RSV-LRTI<2Y (all global P < 0.01). Multivariable modeling for medically-attended wheeze showed a strong association with RSV-LRTI after adjustment for covariates (global P < 0.0001). Conclusions: A substantial amount of wheeze from the second to sixth birthday is potentially attributable to RSV-LRTI<2Y. Prevention of RSV-LRTI<2Y could potentially reduce wheezing episodes in 2–<6-year-old children.

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Population Attributable Risk of Wheeze in 2–<6-Year-old Children, Following a Respiratory Syncytial Virus Lower Respiratory Tract Infection in The First 2 Years of Life

Madhi,

Ceballos,

Cousin

et al. 2024

Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal

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Wheezing Episodes in Children Before and After the Onset of the COVID-19 Pandemic in Brussels

Delporte,

Bruwaene,

Bruffaerts

et al. 2024

Preprint

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Purpose: Studies have demonstrated important changes in the seasonality of pediatric respiratory illnesses since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. The aim of this study was to describe the epidemiology of childhood wheezing episodes before and after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in relation to their potentially associated environmental triggers. Methods: Files of all children treated with salbutamol for a wheezing episode in September and October 2019, 2020 and 2021 were retrospectively reviewed. Infection epidemiology, daily concentrations of air pollutants (NO2, O3, PM10 and PM2.5) and fungal spores were collected over the same time period. Results: In 2021, 298 episodes of wheezing were observed compared to 111 in 2020 and 86 in 2019 (p<0.001). Compared to 2019, children with wheezing in 2021 were significantly older (p<0.001), less likely to have a history of recurrent wheezing (p<0.001) and required less hospitalization (p=0.034). Adenovirus and SARS-CoV-2 were more prevalent in 2021 as compared to 2019 (p<0.001). The concentration of PM10, PM2.5 and O3 was higher in 2021, as compared to both 2019 and 2020 (p<0.001) while the concentration of NO2 and airborne spores was lower in 2021 compared to 2019 (p<0.0001). Conclusion: A threefold increase in wheezing episodes was observed in the autumn post-COVID (2021) compared to pre-COVID (2019) together with a significant increase in some viruses and most air pollutants. We hypothesize that this abnormal surge may be related to the release of restrictions with rapid spread of viruses in children who were exposed to high levels of air pollution.

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Infants born during COVID-19 pandemic experience increased susceptibility to airway hyperresponsiveness

Lachover-Roth,

Cohen-Engler,

Furman

et al. 2024

Front. Allergy

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BackgroundAsthma, allergic rhinitis, atopic dermatitis, and food allergy are type 2 inflammation diseases. Since the 1960s, the prevalence of those diseases has steadily increased, presumably due to the “Hygiene hypothesis” which suggests that early exposure of infants to pathogens, siblings, and environmental dust, has a protective effect against the development of allergic diseases. The COVID-19 pandemic increased environmental hygiene due to lockdowns, masks, and social distancing.ObjectiveTo compare the prevalence of allergic diseases among children born before and during the pandemic.MethodsThe Cow's Milk Early Exposure Trial prospectively followed newborns until 12-months of age using monthly survey and examined milk allergy development. Some were born before the first COVID-19 lockdown in Israel (April 2018–March 2020), and some were born during the pandemic (March 2020–May 2021). The monthly surveys included questions regarding atopic comorbidities.ResultsA total of 1,989 infants completed 12-months of follow-up. Among them, 1,086(54.5%) were diagnosed with at least one atopic disease. Among 235 infants born after the last lockdown, 162 were diagnosed with airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR)(68.9%), significantly more than in any other group. No other significant differences were found between the study groups.ConclusionsThere was no significant difference in the development of atopic comorbidities between infants born before and during the pandemic. Significantly more infants who were born after restrictions were eased were diagnosed AHR. A longer follow-up period is needed to obtain a better understanding of the influence of the COVID-19 restrictions on the development of atopic comorbidities. Clinical Trial RegistryNIH Clinical Trials Registry: NCT02785679.

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The impact of the COVID‐19 pandemic on respiratory morbidity during infancy: A birth‐cohort study

Cited by 4 publications

References 38 publications

Population Attributable Risk of Wheeze in 2–<6-Year-old Children, Following a Respiratory Syncytial Virus Lower Respiratory Tract Infection in The First 2 Years of Life

Population Attributable Risk of Wheeze in 2–<6-Year-old Children, Following a Respiratory Syncytial Virus Lower Respiratory Tract Infection in The First 2 Years of Life

Wheezing Episodes in Children Before and After the Onset of the COVID-19 Pandemic in Brussels

Infants born during COVID-19 pandemic experience increased susceptibility to airway hyperresponsiveness

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