Influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on the epidemiology of acute bronchiolitis

Abstract

Introduction

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the circulation of some viruses associated with acute bronchiolitis. We analyzed the epidemiology of bronchiolitis admissions during the COVID-19 pandemic compared with 8 previous epidemic seasons.

Methods

An observational and ambispective study was performed, including infants admitted with bronchiolitis in a tertiary hospital during 2 periods: COVID-19 pandemic (15th March 2020 to 3rd August 2021) and pre-pandemic (1st September 2012 to 14th March 2020). Demographic, clinical data and etiologies were collected.

Results

Five hundred ten patients were hospitalized with bronchiolitis: 486 in the pre pandemic period with an average of 61 admissions per season vs 24 during the pandemic, observing a 60.7% reduction in bronchiolitis admissions. During the pandemic, bronchiolitis outbreak was delayed until spring-summer 2021. Respiratory syncytial virus was the most frequent etiological agent in both periods.

Conclusion

We observed a change in the seasonality of bronchiolitis during the pandemic COVID-19, possibly influenced by control measures against SARS-CoV-2.

Resumen

Introducción

La pandemia COVID-19 ha modificado la propagación de ciertos virus respiratorios causantes de bronquiolitis aguda. Analizamos la epidemiología de los ingresos por bronquiolitis durante la pandemia COVID-19 en comparación con 8 temporadas epidémicas anteriores.

Métodos

Estudio observacional ambispectivo, que incluyó lactantes con bronquiolitis ingresados en un hospital terciario durante dos períodos: pandemia COVID-19 (15 marzo-2020 a 31 agosto-2021) y pre-pandemia (1 septiembre-2012 a 14 marzo-2020). Se recogieron características demográficas, clínicas y etiología.

Resultados

Ingresaron 510 pacientes por bronquiolitis: 486 en el período pre-pandemia con una media de 61 ingresos por temporadavs 24 durante la pandemia, observándose una reducción de ingresos del 60,7%. Durante la pandemia, el brote epidémico se inició con retraso abarcando la primavera-verano 2021. El virus respiratorio sincitial fue el agente etiológico más frecuente en ambos períodos.

Conclusiones

Observamos un cambio estacional de la bronquiolitis durante la pandemia COVID-19, probablemente influenciado por las medidas de control frente a SARS-CoV-2.