University of Edinburgh

Icosavax

DL_2023_026

We aim to understand and compare the impact of different respiratory infections in hospitalised patients of all ages, specifically human metapneumovirus (hMPV), human parainfluenza virus (PIV), respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and influenza, on people seeking healthcare at NHS Lothian between 2010 and 2022. We will estimate, for each of the virus groups, the severity of disease, requirement of different levels of medical care and the clinical outcomes. This will allow a comparison of the requirement of different levels of medical care, and clinical outcomes with those in each of the viral groups. We will examine data separately for different age groups and underlying health condition status. The findings will help healthcare providers allocate their resources more effectively, develop strategies to prevent and manage these infections, and guide the development of vaccines for hMPV and vaccination policies for specific groups.

The findings will help understand the epidemiology of hMPV infections. hMPV most commonly affects young children, older adults and the immunocompromised. In 2018, global hMPV-associated hospitalisations for under-5 years were 643,000 with 7,700 deaths. Adult burden is unknown globally, but in the USA, hospitalisation rates were 104/100,000 (65–79 years) and 303/100,000 (≥80 years) in 2018–2019. Currently, a few comprehensive studies exploring this topic and none exploring the epidemiology of hMPV-associated infections in Lothian exist. We will estimate the proportion of hMPV cases presenting with severe disease, requiring different levels of clinical management and outcomes, and the risk factors for severe outcomes. hMPV disease burden estimates will be compared to PIV, RSV, and influenza. Dr Kate Templeton is currently the Head Molecular Diagnostics, Director STI and viral genotyping reference laboratory at Royal Infirmary Edinburgh. Dr Kate has been actively involved in the designing of this project and is well-versed with the data. The findings are expected to guide development of vaccines against hMPV and vaccination policies and help inform the allocation and prioritisation of existing resources and inform appropriate testing, prevention, and management strategies at NHS Lothian and thus contribute to the benefit of general public.

Public Health Research

15/04/2024

De-Personalised

TRE