The Persistent Respiratory Impact of Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) Bronchiolitis in Infants.
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) bronchiolitis during infancy has the potential to progress to recurrent wheezing and asthma. However, studies evaluating lung function using tidal breath analysis in this age group are limited.
This study aimed to assess lung function in infants hospitalized during their first episode of acute RSV bronchiolitis using tidal breath analysis, to compare tidal breathing parameters between the acute phase and 2 months after clinical recovery, and to evaluate the impact of bronchiolitis severity on lung function.
A total of 78 infants aged 1-12 months were enrolled in this prospective study; 39 diagnosed with RSV bronchiolitis and 39 age-and sex-matched healthy controls. Lung function was measured using tidal breath analysis during hospitalization for the acute episode and re-evaluated 2 months after recovery.
The ratio of time to peak tidal expiratory flow to expiratory time (tPTEF/tE) was significantly lower in the RSV bronchiolitis group than in healthy controls, and remained significantly reduced at the 2-month follow-up [19.2% (14.9-24.2) vs. 31.4% (28.7-35.3), p < 0.01]. No significant changes in tidal breath analysis parameters were observed between the acute phase and two- months after recovery. In the severe subgroup, both tPTEF and tPTEF/tE values were lower than in the mild and moderate subgroups.
Our findings suggest that expiratory airway obstruction may persist despite clinical recovery in infants following RSV bronchiolitis. The lack of improvement in tidal breathing parameters, particularly tPTEF and tPTEF/tE, highlights the need for long-term follow-up. Moreover, greater disease severity was associated with more sustained impairment in lung function. These findings emphasize the importance of early detection, long-term monitoring, and preventive strategies to reduce the long-term respiratory consequences of RSV infection.
This study aimed to assess lung function in infants hospitalized during their first episode of acute RSV bronchiolitis using tidal breath analysis, to compare tidal breathing parameters between the acute phase and 2 months after clinical recovery, and to evaluate the impact of bronchiolitis severity on lung function.
A total of 78 infants aged 1-12 months were enrolled in this prospective study; 39 diagnosed with RSV bronchiolitis and 39 age-and sex-matched healthy controls. Lung function was measured using tidal breath analysis during hospitalization for the acute episode and re-evaluated 2 months after recovery.
The ratio of time to peak tidal expiratory flow to expiratory time (tPTEF/tE) was significantly lower in the RSV bronchiolitis group than in healthy controls, and remained significantly reduced at the 2-month follow-up [19.2% (14.9-24.2) vs. 31.4% (28.7-35.3), p < 0.01]. No significant changes in tidal breath analysis parameters were observed between the acute phase and two- months after recovery. In the severe subgroup, both tPTEF and tPTEF/tE values were lower than in the mild and moderate subgroups.
Our findings suggest that expiratory airway obstruction may persist despite clinical recovery in infants following RSV bronchiolitis. The lack of improvement in tidal breathing parameters, particularly tPTEF and tPTEF/tE, highlights the need for long-term follow-up. Moreover, greater disease severity was associated with more sustained impairment in lung function. These findings emphasize the importance of early detection, long-term monitoring, and preventive strategies to reduce the long-term respiratory consequences of RSV infection.