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. 2021 Sep 10;47(9):381–396. doi: 10.14745/ccdr.v47i09a05

Table 5. Summary of evidence for lung function associated with RSV infection among within-study population comparisons.

Outcome Comparator 1 Comparator 2 FU Study design
(no. of studies);
Sample size
Absolute difference (95% CI) Relative risk
(95% CI)
Certainty of evidence Conclusion
Comparator 2 risk Absolute risk differencea
Lung function: FEV1 Z-score ranking [-2,-1]
At-risk with RSV-H vs. at-risk without RSV-H Prematurity: 32–35 wGA,
RSV-H
Prematurity: 32–35 wGA,
No RSV-H
During 6th y PC32 (n=1);
243
21 per 100 NS RR 0.83
(0.45, 1.53)
Lowb,c Little to no difference
For forced expiratory volume in one second (Z-score rank of [-2, -1], considered extreme range) during the 6th year of age among children hospitalized with RSV at <12 months
Lung function (FEV1 pre-BD, mean % of predicted)
Not-at-risk population RSV-H No RSV-H 17–20 y;
28–31 y
PC27,28 (n=2);
202
MD -7.63
(-11.35, -3.91)
N/A Lowc,d Small decrease
For forced expiratory volume in one second (mean % of predicted, pre-bronchodilation test) in adulthood (17–31 years of age) among infants with vs. without hospitalization for RSV at age <24 months
Lung function (FEV1, change in mean % predicted)
Not-at-risk population RSV-H No RSV-H 17–20 y;
28–31 y
PC27,28 (n=2);
202
MD 0.81
(-0.67, 2.30)
N/A Lowc,d Little to no difference
For forced expiratory volume in one second (change in mean % predicted, pre vs. post-bronchodilation test) in adulthood (17–31 years of age) among infants with vs. without hospitalization for RSV at age <24 months
Lung function (FVC pre-BD, mean % of predicted)
Not-at-risk population RSV-H No RSV-H 17–20 y;
28–31 y
PC27,28 (n=2);
202
MD -4.74
(-7.80, -1.67)
N/A Lowc,d Small decrease
For forced vital capacity (mean % of predicted, pre-bronchodilation test) in adulthood (17–31 years of age) among infants with vs. without hospitalization for RSV at age <24 months
Lung function (FVC, change in mean % predicted)
Not-at-risk population RSV-H No RSV-H 17–20 y PC27 (n=1);
74
MD 0.60
(-0.67, 1.87)
N/A Very lowc,d,e Very uncertain
For forced vital capacity (change in mean % predicted, pre vs. post-bronchodilation test) in adulthood (17–20 years of age) among infants with vs. without hospitalization for RSV at age <24 months
Lung function (FEV1/FVC pre-BD, % of predicted)
Not-at-risk population RSV-H No RSV-H 17–20 y;
28–31 y
PC27,28 (n=2);
202
MD -3.20
(-9.07, 2.67)
N/A Very lowb,c,d Very uncertain
For FEV1/FVC (mean % of predicted, pre-bronchodilation test) in adulthood (17–31 years of age) among infants with vs. without hospitalization for RSV at age <24 months
Lung function (FEV1/FVC, change in mean % predicted)
Not-at-risk population RSV-H No RSV-H 17–20 y PC27 (n=1);
74
MD -0.20
(-2.71, 2.31)
N/A Very lowb,c,e Very uncertain
For FEV1/FVC (change in mean % predicted, pre vs. post-bronchodilation test) in adulthood (17–20 years of age) among infants with vs. without hospitalization for RSV at age <24 months
Lung function (FENO, mean ppb)
Not-at-risk population RSV-H No RSV-H 17–20 y;
28–31 y
PC27,28 (n=2);
202
MD -1.00
(-14.49, 12.49)
N/A Lowc,d Little to no difference
For fractional exhaled nitric oxide (mean ppb) in adulthood (17–31 years of age) among infants with vs. without hospitalization for RSV at age <24 months
Lung function (MEF50 pre-BD, mean % of predicted)
Not-at-risk population RSV-H No RSV-H 17–20 y PC27 (n=1);
74
MD -4.00
(-14.95, 6.95)
N/A Very lowb,c,d,e Very uncertain
For maximum expiratory flow after 50% of expired FVC (change in mean % predicted, pre-bronchodilation test) in adulthood (17–20 years of age) among infants with vs. without hospitalization for RSV at age <24 months
Lung function (MEF50, change in mean % predicted)
Not-at-risk population RSV-H No RSV-H 17–20 y PC27 (n=1);
74
MD 3.70
(-5.42, 12.82)
N/A Very lowb,c,d,e Very uncertain
For maximum expiratory flow after 50% of expired FVC (change in mean % predicted, pre vs. post-bronchodilation test) in adulthood (17–20 years of age) among infants with vs. without hospitalization for RSV at age <24 months

Abbreviations: BD, bronchodilator; CI, confidence interval; FENO, fractional exhaled nitric oxide; FEV1, forced expiratory volume in one second; FU, follow-up; FVC, forced vital capacity; MD, mean difference; MEF50, maximum expiratory flow after 50% of expired FVC; N/A, not applicable; no., number; NS, not significant; PC, prospective cohort; ppb, parts per billion; RR, risk ratio; RSV, respiratory syncytial virus; RSV-H, respiratory syncytial virus hospitalization; vs., versus; wGA, weeks’ gestational age; y, year(s)

a Absolute risk reductions were calculated when findings were statistically significant; NS denotes when findings were not statistically significant

Certainty of evidence was assessed for each outcome using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) methodology. Starting at high for observational studies (for prognosis evidence) each outcome is rated as high, moderate, low or very low based on downgrading (if any) for one or more of the following domains:

b Indirectness

c Imprecision

d Study limitations, including selective outcome reporting

e Two decrements (-2) due to very serious concerns for this domain