Epidemiology, incidence, hospitalization rates, and clinical severity of acute respiratory infections associated with respiratory viruses: A population-based surveillance study integrating multi-source data in China
1
School of Population Medicine and Public Health, Chinese Academy of Medical Science & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
2
National Institute of Pathogen Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
3
Chongqing Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Chongqing, China
Popul. Med. 2026;8(Supplement Supplement 1):
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Key to immunization and disease control, data on the disease burden of respiratory viruses in China are limited, with most studies focusing on single viruses and lacking population-based incidence and hospitalization rates.
METHODS:
We integrated multi-source data from hospitals and communities in Chongqing from October 15, 2023, to April 30, 2025, and analyzed the seasonality and age-related trends of six viruses. We identified risk factors for severe acute respiratory infection (SARI) and developed a modified multiplier model to estimate incidence and hospitalization rates of acute respiratory infections associated with these viruses.
RESULTS:
We included 16,363 patients with respiratory infections, comprising 12,669 outpatients and 3,694 inpatients. Most viruses reverted to pre-COVID-19 pandemic patterns, with human rhinovirus (HRV) and human metapneumovirus (HMPV) showing distinct seasonality. Influenza virus (IFV) peaked in adolescents and adults, while respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and human parainfluenza virus (HPIV) followed an infant−elderly pattern. Human adenovirus (HAdv), HRV, and HMPV were most prevalent in preschoolers. RSV had a significantly higher SARI risk compared to IFV, HRV, HAdv, HMPV, and HPIV (aOR: 7.88, 1.52, 3.21, 1.76, and 1.63, respectively). The incidence and hospitalization rates (per 100,000 person-years) of HRV (incidence: 30,183; hospitalization: 2,153), HMPV (22,774; 514), RSV (22,181; 2,065), IFV (13,086; 807), HPIV (7,824; 556), and HAdv (6,991; 1,487) were highest in children under five. Hospitalization rates increased again in those aged ≥ 60: HRV (170), RSV (80), IFV (70), HMPV (54), HAdv (27), and HPIV (23).
CONCLUSIONS:
Pay attention to household transmission of pathogens with a child–elderly pattern. Integrating multi-source data can provide population-level evaluation of the respiratory virus disease burden.
Key to immunization and disease control, data on the disease burden of respiratory viruses in China are limited, with most studies focusing on single viruses and lacking population-based incidence and hospitalization rates.
METHODS:
We integrated multi-source data from hospitals and communities in Chongqing from October 15, 2023, to April 30, 2025, and analyzed the seasonality and age-related trends of six viruses. We identified risk factors for severe acute respiratory infection (SARI) and developed a modified multiplier model to estimate incidence and hospitalization rates of acute respiratory infections associated with these viruses.
RESULTS:
We included 16,363 patients with respiratory infections, comprising 12,669 outpatients and 3,694 inpatients. Most viruses reverted to pre-COVID-19 pandemic patterns, with human rhinovirus (HRV) and human metapneumovirus (HMPV) showing distinct seasonality. Influenza virus (IFV) peaked in adolescents and adults, while respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and human parainfluenza virus (HPIV) followed an infant−elderly pattern. Human adenovirus (HAdv), HRV, and HMPV were most prevalent in preschoolers. RSV had a significantly higher SARI risk compared to IFV, HRV, HAdv, HMPV, and HPIV (aOR: 7.88, 1.52, 3.21, 1.76, and 1.63, respectively). The incidence and hospitalization rates (per 100,000 person-years) of HRV (incidence: 30,183; hospitalization: 2,153), HMPV (22,774; 514), RSV (22,181; 2,065), IFV (13,086; 807), HPIV (7,824; 556), and HAdv (6,991; 1,487) were highest in children under five. Hospitalization rates increased again in those aged ≥ 60: HRV (170), RSV (80), IFV (70), HMPV (54), HAdv (27), and HPIV (23).
CONCLUSIONS:
Pay attention to household transmission of pathogens with a child–elderly pattern. Integrating multi-source data can provide population-level evaluation of the respiratory virus disease burden.
| eISSN: | 2654-1459 |
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