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Objective: To investigate the association between birth weight and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) hospitalisation during the first year of life in 33°–356weeks’ gestational age (wGA) infants. Study design: Pooled analysis of data (n = 1218) from Spain, Germany, France and Italy. Result: RSV hospitalised infants overall had a significantly higher birth weight than non-hospitalised infants (2.24 versus 2.14 kg;p < 0.001) for both males (2.25 versus 2.18 kg;p = 0.049) and females (2.22 versus 2.11 kg,p = 0.007). The effect was significant only in 34 wGA infants (33 wGA: hospitalised 1.95 kg versus non-hospitalised 1.95 kg,p = 0.976; 34 wGA: 2.26 versus 2.14 kg,p = 0.007; 35 wGA: 2.37 versus 2.29 kg,p = 0.070), particularly female 34 wGA infants (female: 2.24 versus 2.08 kg,p = 0.019; male: 2.27 versus 2.20,p = 0.191). Birth weight was shown to be an independent risk factor for RSV hospitalisation. Conclusions: In 33–35 wGA infants, a higher birth weight appeared independently associated with an increased risk of RSV hospitalisation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To evaluate the key risk factors for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) hospitalisation in 32–35 weeks’ gestational age (wGA) infants. Methods: Published risk factors were assessed for predictive accuracy (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve [ROC AUC]) and for number needed to treat (NNT). Results: Key risk factors included: proximity of birth to the RSV season; having siblings; crowding at home; day care; smoking; breast feeding; small for GA; male gender; and familial wheezing/eczema. Proximity of birth to the RSV season appeared the most predictive. Risk factors models from Europe and Canada were found to have a high level of predictive accuracy (ROC AUC both >0.75; NNT for European model 9.5). A model optimised for three risk factors (birth ±10 weeks from start of RSV season, number of siblings ≥2 years and breast feeding for ≤2 months) had a similar level of prediction (ROC AUC: 0.776; NNT: 10.2). An example two-risk factor model (day care attendance and living with ≥2 siblings <5 years old) had a lower level of predictive accuracy (ROC AUC: 0.55; NNT: 26). Conclusions: An optimised combination of risk factors has the potential to improve the identification of 32–35 wGA infants at heightened risk of RSV hospitalisation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]