Publication

Does respiratory syncytial virus lower respiratory illness in early life cause recurrent wheeze of early childhood and asthma? Critical review of the evidence and guidance for future studies from a World Health Organization-sponsored meeting

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a leading cause of lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI) and hospitalization in children globally, causing an estimated 33.1 million LRTI episodes, 3.2 million hospitalizations, and 118,000 deaths in 2015. An estimated 45% of all hospitalizations and deaths are in infants less than 6 months of age, with 99% of global RSV mortality occurring outside of North America and Europe. The only licensed monoclonal antibody (mAb) to prevent RSV LRTI (Synagis®, palivizumab) is recommended only in high-risk infants (e.g. preterm or with certain co-morbidities) and is cost prohibitive for low and middle-income countries (LMICs). There are no licensed vaccines for RSV; however, several candidate products (e.g., vaccines and mAbs) are in clinical development.

A long-standing question is whether RSV LRTI in early life causes subsequent recurrent wheeze of early childhood (RWEC) and asthma. The current evidence supporting a causal association between RSV and RWEC/asthma is mixed. Understanding whether prevention of RSV LRTI can lead to reductions in rates of RWEC and asthma will contribute important information to policy decisions regarding RSV vaccines and mAbs.