Analysis of Risk Factors for Pediatric Respiratory Syncytial Virus Pneumonia and Optimization of Vaccination Strategies

Objective The study focuses on pneumonia in children caused by respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), which is linked to high morbidity, hospitalization, and mortality rates. It aims to enhance pediatric vaccination strategies by examining the clinical differences between severe and non-severe RSV pneumonia cases. Methods Conducted from April 2023 to August 2025, this retrospective study used electronic medical records from the Pediatric Medical Center at The Seventh Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University. We analyzed 387 hospitalized children with RSV, assessing risk factors through univariate and multivariate logistic regression. Results Based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 350 patients were included in the final analysis. Among these, 157 patients (44.9%) were diagnosed with severe respiratory syncytial virus pneumonia (SRSVP), while 193 patients (55.1%) were diagnosed with non-severe respiratory syncytial virus pneumonia (NRSVP). Through multivariate logistic regression analysis, the presence of siblings and low body weight were identified as significant risk factors for the development of SRSVP(Having siblings: odds ratio 1.568, 95% CI 1.015–2.421, P = 0.043; Weight: odds ratio 0.939, 95% CI 0887,0.995, P = 0.032). Conclusion The study concludes that the risk of developing severe respiratory syncytial virus pneumonia (SRSVP) is significantly associated with specific epidemiological characteristics of the patient. Notably, having siblings and low body weight emerged as independent predictors for the onset of SRSVP.