Association between early-life respiratory syncytial virus infection and the risk of asthma: a meta-analysis.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a common cause of lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs) in early childhood, yet its long-term impact on asthma development remains uncertain. This meta-analysis aims to quantify the association between early-life RSV-LRTI and the subsequent risk of asthma.

Methods

A systematic search of PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science was conducted. Observational studies comparing asthma incidence between children with early-life RSV-LRTI (before 3 years of age) and those without early-life LRTI or with non-RSV LRTI were included. Risk ratios (RRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were pooled using a random-effects model to incorporate the possible influences of heterogeneity.

Results

Eighteen studies with 266,071 children wer

SUBMITTER: Jia XQ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12688565 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature