Upper Resp Tract Infection
Conditions
Keywords
URTI, Influenza, RSV, Climate change
Brief summary
Investigators assume that global climate changes can influence upper respiratory tract infection peak prevalence, which may have significant clinical implication, for example, by adjusting seasonal Influenzas' vaccine timing. Therefore, the investigators will collect data from electronic medical database about patients tested positive for winter seasonal respiratory tract viruses from 2022 and compare the incidence to the meteorological profile of that season.
Detailed description
The seasonal cycle of respiratory viral diseases has been widely recognized for thousands of years, as annual epidemics of the common cold and influenza hit the human population like clockwork in temperate regions during winter. Many explanations for this phenomenon appear in the literature. Huang et al. reported in 2017 a decrease in Influenza incidence while average temperatures increased in Queensland, Australia. Weather variability appears to be more influential on seasonal influenza transmission among younger age groups (0-14). Not only is the temperature relevant, but all meteorological parameters also vary. For example, Qi et al. found that both low and high absolute humidity might increase influenza risk in China, and the relationship varies geographically. The meteorological service in Israel reports a marked increase in temperature when comparing 2006-2020 to 1964-1979 and 1995-2009 across all seasons. The average warming rate from 1964-1979 to 2006-2020 is approximately 1.5°C, highlighting a notable temperature difference. The investigators assume that global climate changes can influence Influenza peak prevalence, which may have significant clinical implication by adjusting seasonal Influenzas' vaccine timing. The study will include identification of all patients who tested positive for URT infection with seasonal virus (Influenza, RSV, Rhinovirus, Human MetaPneumoVirus, ParaInflunza) via respiratory PCR since 2022, whether in the emergency department or during hospitalization. This will be followed by a review of medical records to extract baseline data: age, sex, weight, underlying medical conditions, and the need for hospitalization, intensive care admission, mechanical ventilation, vasopressors, or renal replacement therapy.
Interventions
OTHERNo Intervention: Observational Cohort
No intervention, observational retrospective study.
Sponsors
Barzilai Medical Center
Study design
Observational model
CASE_ONLY
Time perspective
RETROSPECTIVE
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
* All patient with a positive nasopharyngeal swab for a respiratory virus
Exclusion criteria
* No medical record available
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Incidence | 4 winter seasons, from 2022 to 2026. | Examining the incidence of severe upper respiratory tract illness (requiring hospital visits) in relation to weather changes over the last four seasons. |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Morbidity | 4 winter seasons, 2022 to 2026. | Analysis of winter morbidity trends among patients presenting to the hospital with Influenza. Including severity of illness (need for ICU admission, mechanical ventilation and/or inotropes assistance). |
| Mortality | 4 winter seasons 2022-2026 | Analysis of winter mortality trends among patients presenting to the hospital with Influenza. Including mortality during hospitalization or within 30 days. |
| recurrence | 4 winter seasons, 2022-2026 | Analysis of upper respiratory tract infection recurrence trends among patients presenting to the hospital with Influenza. Including recurrent admission within 30 days. |
Countries
Israel
Contacts
CONTACTDaniel leshin Carmel Head of Infection Control and Prevention, MD
CONTACTPnina Nir Study Coordinator
PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATORDaniel Leshin Carmel, MD
Barzilai Medical Center
Outcome results
None listed