Severity and Cost of RSV Hospitalization Among US Preterm Infants Following the 2014 American Academy of Pediatrics Policy Change

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Committee on Infectious Diseases (COID) periodically publishes recommendations for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) immunoprophylaxis (IP) use in pediatric patients considered to be at highest risk for severe RSV infection. In 2014, for the first time, the AAP COID stopped recommending the use of RSV IP for otherwise healthy infants born at 29 weeks’ gestational age (wGA) or later, stating that RSV hospitalization (RSVH) rates in this population are similar to those of term infants. Subsequently, epidemiological studies in the US at national and regional levels provided evidence of the impact of the policy change in 29–34 wGA infants. The results of these studies demonstrated a significant decrease in IP use after 2014 that was associated with an increased rate of RSVH in 29–34 wGA infants and an increase in morbidities. RSVH-related morbidities included pediatric intensive care unit (ICU) admissions, an increased need for mechanical ventilation, and an increase in the length of stay. After the change in recommendations, the costs of RSVH also rose among 29–34 wGA infants. The severity of the illness and expenses associated with RSVH were generally higher among 29–34 wGA infants of younger chronologic age compared with older preterm infants. Overall, these studies underscore that 29–34 wGA infants continue to be a high-risk pediatric population that could benefit from the protection provided by RSV IP. On the basis of these data, in 2018, the National Perinatal Association developed guidelines that recommended RSV IP for all ≤ 32 wGA infants and 32–35 wGA infants with additional risk factors. Re-evaluation of the AAP COID policy is warranted in light of these observations.