title: Modelling estimates of the burden of respiratory syncytial virus infection in children in the UK.
abstract: The burden of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) illness is not well characterised in primary care. We estimated the burden of disease attributable to RSV in children in the UK between 1995 and 2009.
  
  
  
  Time-series regression modelling.
  
  
  
  A multiple linear regression model based on weekly viral surveillance (RSV and influenza, Public Health England), and controlled for non-specific seasonal drivers of disease, estimated the proportion of general practitioner (GP) episodes of care (counted as first visit in a series within 28 days; Clinical Practice Research Datalink, CPRD), hospitalisations (Hospital Episode Statistics, HES) and deaths (Office of National Statistics, ONS) attributable to RSV each season.
  
  
  
  Children 0-17 years registered with a GP in CPRD, or with a respiratory disease outcome in the HES or ONS databases.
  
  
  
  RSV-attributable burden of GP episodes, hospitalisations and deaths due to respiratory disease by age. RSV-attributable burden associated with selected antibiotic prescriptions.
  
  
  
  RSV-attributable respiratory disease in the UK resulted in an estimated 450 158 GP episodes, 29 160 hospitalisations and 83 deaths per average season in children and adolescents, with the highest proportions in children <6 months of age (14 441/100 000 population, 4184/100 000 and 6/100 000, respectively). In an average season, there were an estimated 125 478 GP episodes for otitis media and 416 133 prescriptions for antibiotics attributable to RSV. More GP episodes, hospitalisations and deaths from respiratory disease were attributable to RSV than to influenza in children under 5 years.
  
  
  
  The burden of RSV in children in the UK exceeds that of influenza. RSV in children and adolescents contributes substantially to GP office visits for a diverse range of illnesses, and was associated with an average 416 133 prescribed antibiotic courses per season. Effective antiviral treatments and preventive vaccines are urgently needed for the management of RSV infection in children.
  
  
  
  NCT01706302.
authors.affiliation: GSK Vaccines, Wavre, Belgium.
authors.forename: Sylvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.affiliation: Sage Analytica, Bethesda, Maryland, USA.
authors.forename: Robert J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.affiliation: Sage Analytica, Bethesda, Maryland, USA.
authors.forename: Roger L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Lustig
authors.affiliation: Sage Analytica, Bethesda, Maryland, USA.
authors.forename: Cynthia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Schuck-Paim
authors.affiliation: GSK Vaccines, Wavre, Belgium.
authors.forename: François
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Haguinet
authors.affiliation: GSK Pharmaceuticals, Uxbridge, UK.
authors.forename: David J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Webb
authors.affiliation: GSK Pharmaceuticals, Uxbridge, UK.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Logie
authors.affiliation: GSK Vaccines, Wavre, Belgium.
authors.forename: Gonçalo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Matias
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences University of Surrey, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Surrey, Guildford, UK.
authors.forename: Douglas M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Fleming
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D017677:Age Distribution; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D017281:Cost of Illness; D016208:Databases, Factual; D011307:Drug Prescriptions / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D010033:Otitis Media / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011320:Primary Health Care; D018357:Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012621:Seasons; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents
keywords: Children; Mortality; Otitis Media; Respiratory syncytial virus