Severe Acute Respiratory Illness at The Hospital for Sick Children: A systematic review of SARI case definitions, and development of a novel child-specific case definition

Following the relaxation of policies mandating COVID-19-related non-pharmaceutical interventions, Canadian paediatric hospitals experienced unprecedented volumes of patients hospitalized with acute respiratory infections (ARI) such as influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). Clinical presentations among these patients were often more severe, and patients were typically older and with fewer pre-existing conditions than expected based on pre-pandemic trends. In 2022, The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) launched a cohort study of ARIs among hospitalized children, to study changes in disease epidemiology and severity. This project will utilize this existing database to: a) analyze and identify risk factors for severe disease among patients with respiratory viruses; and b) systematically review existing case definitions for ARIs, and to use machine learning to develop a novel child-specific syndromic ARI case definition. Findings from this project will inform recommendations for childhood immunization programs and use of other products (e.g., for RSV). An updated understanding of risk factors during the period of COVID-19 co-circulation will also guide decision-making for patients with risk factors for severe disease at SickKids and beyond. Furthermore, development of a new child-specific syndromic case definition for ARIs will contribute to more responsive and sensitive outbreak detection of respiratory viral infections.

Faculty Supervisor:

Shelly Bolotin

Student:

Partner:

The Hospital for Sick Children

Discipline:

Life Sciences

Sector:

Health and Related Sciences & Technology; Public administration

University:

University of Toronto

Program: