Clinical-epidemiological evaluation of the impact of Respiratory Syncytial Virus in adults

• Grant number: 23/07391-7
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: November 01, 2023
• End date: October 31, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Medicine - Medical Clinics
• Principal Investigator: Nancy Cristina Junqueira Bellei
• Grantee: Nancy Cristina Junqueira Bellei
• Host Institution: Escola Paulista de Medicina (EPM). Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP). Campus São Paulo. São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated researchers: Ana Helena Sitta Perosa ; Tania do Socorro Souza Chaves
• Associated scholarship(s): 25/02574-1 - Training and application of molecular tests for the diagnosis of RSV and other respiratory viruses and their implications in epidemiological surveillance., BP.TT

Abstract

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is one of the most common causes of respiratory infections in children under five years of age. From the 1970s onwards, RSV has been described as an important cause of severe acute respiratory infection and death in people over 65 years of age, with comorbidities and in immunosuppressed individuals. Estimates from high-income countries point to 1.5 million RSV-related acute respiratory infections in the elderly, resulting in 14.5% of hospitalizations. The main objective of this study is to evaluate the occurrence of respiratory syncytial virus in adults with comorbidities, treated at the Hospital São Paulo/UNIFESP complex, in the Pneumology and Cardiology outpatient clinics. The control group will be health professionals without comorbidities treated at the Employee Health Care Center (NASF) at Hospital São Paulo/UNIFESP. The research project was submitted to the Research Ethics Committee of the Federal University of São Paulo. Eligible participants from 18 years of age, with cardiopulmonary comorbidities, followed at the outpatient services of Cardiology and Pneumology at the HSP of UNIFESP, who meet the criteria for defining acute respiratory infection (ARI) and severe acute respiratory infection, will be included in the study. (SARI) defined by the World Health Organization. The collected samples will be sent and processed at the Virology Laboratory of the Infectious Diseases at Unifesp. The technique for detection and subtyping of RSV will be performed by RT-qPCR. Ahead of the actual availability of new RSV vaccines and monoclonal antibodies, accurately knowing the burden of disease in our environment related to RSV is essential for decision-making on public policies for the treatment and prevention of RSV infection in the elderly and people with comorbidities. (AU)