Design

In order to survey the clinical and socioeconomic characteristics of young children who died with RSV infection, the RSV GOLD project is set up as a case series. Cases of deaths are collected retrospectively, which means children who already died are included.
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Worldwide approach

Given RSV-associated childhood mortality is a global problem, we believe a worldwide approach is necessary. We collect cases of deaths from all over the world of children younger than 5 years of age with community-acquired or hospital-acquired RSV infection who died in in the community or in hospital. Dedicated researchers at the Wilhelmina Children’s Hospital at University Medical Center Utrecht collect deaths, either via literature searches or by contacting individual investigators, research groups, physicians and networks. Health care providers and researchers from all over the world are encouraged to collaborate and report cases of RSV-related mortality to the registry.
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Online questionnaire

In order to obtain individual data on clinical and socioeconomic characteristics, an online questionnaire was developed by the RSV GOLD team. Characteristics of interest include age at moment of death, comorbidities (such as congenital heart disease or HIV infection), prematurity, admission to the paediatric intensive care unit and availability of mechanical ventilation. The data collected will be analysed in aggregate as well as in subgroups. Our results and conclusions will be communicated to policy makers to assist in establishing a vaccine policy against RSV.
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The RSV GOLD project is funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.