The REspiratory Syncytial virus Consortium in EUrope (RESCEU) is an Innovative Medicine Initiative (IMI) funded by the EU under the H2020 framework to define and understand the burden of disease caused by human respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection. RSV causes severe disease in individuals at the extremes of the age spectrum and in high risk groups. It was estimated that RSV was associated with 34 million cases of acute respiratory tract infection (ARTI), 3.4 million ARTI hospitalizations and 55,000 to 199,000 deaths in children \<5 years in 2005 worldwide. The estimated burden of disease in older adults is comparable with non-pandemic influenza A (for which a vaccine is available). These estimates were based on limited data and there is a substantial gap in knowledge on morbidity and associated healthcare and social costs in Europe. New vaccines and therapeutics against RSV are in development and could soon be available on the European market. RESCEU will deliver knowledge of the incidence and burden of RSV disease in young children and older adults in Europe, which is essential for stakeholders (governments, etc.) to take decisions about prophylaxis and treatment. Objective: To determine the burden of disease due to RSV in older adults. Study design: Prospective epidemiological, observational, multi-country, multicenter cohort study. Study population: Adults aged 60 years and up (n=1,000) of which approximately 50% is above 75 years of age. Main study parameters/endpoints: The primary endpoints of the study are; * The incidence of RSV infection-associated ARTI. * RSV associated medically attended (MA) ARTI. * RSV related hospitalization.
In total, 1000 participants are recruited in three European countries (the Netherlands, Belgium and the United Kingdom). Participants, older adults above the age of 60 years, are recruited from general practitioners offices. Individual participants will be followed for one year (at least one winter season). For the individual participant the study procedures are described below: Baseline visit: Baseline visits are performed either at home or at the participating site before the start of the RSV season. The beginning of the season is to be determined per site in accordance to the local virologic surveillance reports. In general, baseline visits are performed between August and the beginning of October. A questionnaire on demographic, social and clinical status is completed during this visit. Additionally, vital signs are recorded such as oxygen saturation, heart frequency and breathing frequency. During the baseline visit a blood sample (60 ml, serum, paxgene, whole blood) and nasopharyngeal swab (microbiome) will be collected. Weekly follow-up during the RSV season: From October until May participants are contacted weekly to check whether there are signs of a respiratory tract infection. If respiratory symptoms are present, the study team will perform a home visit or ask the participant to visit the site to perform a rapid Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)-based point of care test (POCT) for RSV using a nasopharyngeal swab. Additionally both an oro- and nasopharyngeal swab are collected for standard PCR, vital signs are recorded. Participants are asked to complete a daily dairy on respiratory symptoms, health care use and quality of life during 28 days from the moment of infection. If symptoms are not present anymore for two consecutive days, the participant can stop completing the diary. In case of a positive RSV infection, additional sampling is performed by the study team. This consists of a nasopharyngeal swab (microbiome) and blood (Serum/PaxGene/whole blood). The same materials (minus serum and PaxGene sample) are collected again in convalescence (1-2 weeks after infection). End of season visit: At the end of the RSV season (May-June), again sampling is performed combined with recording vital signs. Samples collected are; blood (serum/PaxGene) and a nasopharyngeal swab (microbiome). In addition, a questionnaire will completed on respiratory symptoms, health care use, social status and quality of life.
Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Enrollment
1,040
University of Antwerp
Antwerp, Antwerpen, Belgium
University Medical Centre Utrecht
Utrecht, Netherlands
University of Oxford
Oxford, United Kingdom
Number of participants with a Reverse Transcription-Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) confirmed RSV infection (incidence of RSV infection).
The main outcome of the study is to determine the burden of RSV in the older adult population. Therefore the incidence rate of all RSV in the overall study population of older patients is investigated, including medically attended RSV infection-associated ARTI in both inpatients and outpatients. Nasal swabs are collected by the study team in case of a respiratory infection and tested with RT-PCR for presence of RSV. The incidence of RSV is calculated by dividing the number of RSV positive infections by the total number of study participants. The number of RSV positive infections divided by the total number of infections is calculated as well.
Time frame: Data is collected during the RSV season by weekly contact and viral swab diagnostics for RSV in case of respiratory infection. Medically attended RSV will be recorded throughout the one year follow-up.
The incidence rate of all-cause MA-ARTI or events leading to worsening of cardiorespiratory status (based on questionnaires at baseline and after one year of follow-up).
worsening of cardiorespiratory status is monitored using the questionnaire data collected at baseline and follow-up after 1 year. This includes questions on medication usage, new chronic diagnoses and doctor visits for all cause respiratory illness.
Time frame: Data on worsening of cardiorespiratory status is collected during individual study participation of 1 year
RSV-related mortality through the RSV season.
Mortality through the RSV season. RSV-associated deaths are recorded and verified by the presence of an active infection with PCR proven RSV-infection around the time of death. Data is recorded in questionnaires during and after the winter season and based on hospital case-report forms (CRF's) in case of in-hospital death.
Time frame: Data on mortality is collected during individual study participation of 1 year
Non-RSV related mortality through the RSV season.
Mortality through the RSV season. All-cause mortality is recorded. Data is recorded in questionnaires during and after the winter season and based on hospital case-report forms (CRF's) in case of in-hospital death.
Time frame: Data on mortality is collected during individual study participation of 1 year
Health care costs for RSV-associated ARTI.
Health care cost are examined with regard to resource usage such as hospitalization, hospital duration, incidence and duration of intensive care unit stay, supplemental oxygen use, antibiotic and antiviral use and number of outpatient visits (e.g., ER visit, physician office/outpatient visits). The costs of these resource use are calculated to determine the health care cost associated with an RSV infection.
Time frame: Data on health care costs are collected during individual study participation of 1 year
Health care costs for all-cause MA-ARTI.
Health care cost for all-cause medically attended ARTI are examined with regard to resource usage such as hospitalization, hospital duration, incidence and duration of intensive care unit stay, supplemental oxygen use, antibiotic and antiviral use and number of outpatient visits (e.g., ER visit, physician office/outpatient visits).The costs of these resource use are calculated to determine the health care cost associated with an RSV infection.
Time frame: Data on health care costs are collected during individual study participation of 1 year
The incidence rate of RSV-associated secondary bacterial pneumonia events
defined as pneumonia within 21 days after RSV infection and associated antibiotic use.
Time frame: Data on the incidence of pneumonia are collected during individual study participation of 1 year
Change in frailty over the course of study using the Groningen Frailty indicator (GFI) questionnaire.
Frailty is assessed using the Groningen Frailty Indicator questionnaire which is included in the baseline and 1 year follow-up questionnaire. The GFI is a 15-item screening instrument to determine the level of frailty, which is available in a professional and self-report version. It measures the loss of functions and resources in 4 domains: physical (mobility functions, multiple health problems, physical fatigue, vision, hearing), cognitive (cognitive dysfunction), social (emotional isolation), and psychological (depressed mood and feelings of anxiety). All answer categories were dichotomized and a score of 1 indicates a problem or dependency. The range of the GFI score is 0 to 15. Geriatric experts agreed that a score of 4 or higher represents moderate to severe frailty
Time frame: Data on the change in frailty is collected during individual study participation of 1 year
Sample collection for biomarker analysis to investigate possible biomarkers which are predictive of severe or complicated RSV disease in older adults
Blood sampling (serum/paxgene/whole blood) as well as viral and microbiome sampling using naso-/oropharyngeal swabs is performed to collect biomaterials for biomarker research on RSV severity and susceptibility
Time frame: Samples are collected at various timepoints during the one year study participation.
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