The Estimate of Parental Quality of Life Loss Due to Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) Hospitalization

Abstract

Background: Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is one of the leading causes of pediatric hospitalizations, mainly in children under 2 years of age. Hospitalization affects the caregivers’ quality of life (QoL). We assessed the caregivers’ QoL during RSV-confirmed hospitalizations of children under 2 years old, identified the most affected QoL dimensions and calculated utilities focusing on the assessment methods and potential confounders. Methods: The caregivers filled out the EQ-5D questionnaire, consisting of a descriptive system (assessing 5 QoL dimensions) and a visual analog scale (EQ VAS). Utility, utility loss and quality-adjusted life years (QALY) loss were calculated, and a concordance between the two systems was assessed. Results: A disturbance in any of the five assessed dimensions was reported by 42% (55 out of 132) of the caregivers, mostly anxiety/depression (37%) and pain/discomfort (17%). The utilities varied between 0.17 and 1 in the descriptive system and 0.33–1 (median 0.86) in the EQ VAS, with a utility loss of 0.14 (IQR: 0.1–0.2). The calculated QALY loss reached a median of 2.45 × 10−3 (IQR: 1.37 × 10−3–4.56 × 10−3) and was not influenced by the patient’s age or the final clinical diagnosis (QALY loss for bronchiolitis: 2.74 × 10−3, pneumonia: 1.84 × 10−3, bronchitis: 1.78 × 10−3, differences statistically insignificant). Only a moderate concordance between the descriptive system and the EQ VAS was seen (Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient = 0.437, p < 0.05), with the latter revealing a higher degree of QoL disturbances. Conclusions: RSV hospitalization influences parental QoL significantly, and anxiety/depression is the most commonly reported issue. Utility impairment scores depend on the assessment method but not on the patient’s age or final diagnosis. Thus, the impact of RSV on caregivers’ QoL cannot be underestimated.

The Multifaceted Burden of Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) Infections in Young Children on the Family: A European Study

“…Compared to a community sample of healthy children (means of the total score = 70.8, the parent HRQoL summary score = 69.4 and the family functioning summary score = 65.5), our study participants reported substantially lower sum scores, indicating a negative impact of RSV-associated hospitalisation in young children on parental quality of life in general and with a special focus on “daily activities” as the most impacted part of family life across all countries [ 17 ]. This assumption is consistent with previously published literature, describing a significant deterioration in parental quality of life—especially regarding parents’ concerns, emotions and feelings as well as usual, family and self-care activities—from RSV (hospitalisation) in children [ 10 , 21 ].…”

“…A systematic review on long-term respiratory morbidity associated with RSV infection in early childhood identified growing evidence for long-term wheezing, asthma and impaired lung function after RSV LRTI in toddlerhood [ 26 ]. Same patterns are shown in relation to long-term consequences of pediatric RSV infection on parental HRQoL as analysed, for instance, by Diez-Gandia and colleagues, Leidy et al as well as Glaser et al [ 10 , 11 , 21 , 27 ]. As a result, a significant long-term healthcare-resource utilisation burden occurs [ 28 ].…”