scholarly journals Spontaneously Low Protein Intake in Elderly CKD Patients: Myth or Reality? Analysis of Baseline Protein Intake in a Large Cohort of Patients with Advanced CKD

Nutrients ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (12) ◽  
pp. 4371
Author(s):  
Massimo Torreggiani ◽  
Antioco Fois ◽  
Maria Rita Moio ◽  
Antoine Chatrenet ◽  
Béatrice Mazé ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Kidney Disease ◽  
Elderly Patients ◽  
Protein Intake ◽  
Oldest Old ◽  
Laboratory Data ◽  
Age Distribution ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Younger Patients ◽  
Ckd Stage

The recent guidelines on nutritional management of chronic kidney disease (CKD) advise a reduction in protein intake as early as CKD stage 3, regardless of age, to slow kidney function impairment. However, since elderly patients are usually considered as having a spontaneously reduced protein intake, nutritional interventions to reduce protein intake are often considered futile. This study aimed to assess the baseline protein intake of elderly CKD patients referred for nephrology care, and explore the need for dietary evaluations, focusing on the current recommendations for protein restriction in CKD. This is an observational study of CKD patients followed in the unit dedicated to advanced CKD patients in Le Mans, France. Patients with stages 3 to 5 not on dialysis were included. All patients were evaluated by an expert dietician to assess their baseline protein intake, whenever possible on the basis of a 7-days diet journal; when this was not available, dietary recall or analysis of delivered meals was employed. Demographic characteristics, underlying kidney disease, Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI), Malnutrition-Inflammation Score (MIS), Subjective Global Assessment (SGA) and clinical and laboratory data were recorded. Between 15 November 2017 and 31 December 2020, 436 patients were evaluated in the unit. Their age distribution was as follows: “young”: <60 (n = 62), “young-old”: 60–69 (n = 74), “old”: 70–79 (n = 108), “old-old”: 80–89 (n = 140) and “oldest-old”: ≥90 (n = 54). The prevalence of vascular nephropathies was higher in patients older than 70 years compared to younger ones, as did CCI and MIS (p < 0.001). Moderate nutritional impairment (SGA: B) was higher in elderly patients, reaching 53.7% at ≥90, while less than 3% of patients in the overall cohort were classified as SGA C (p < 0.001). The median protein intake was higher than the recommended one of 0.8 g/kg/day in all age groups; it was 1.2 g/kg/day in younger patients and 1.0 thereafter (p < 0.001). Patient survival depended significantly on age (p < 0.001) but not on baseline protein intake (p = 0.63), and younger patients were more likely to start dialysis during follow-up (p < 0.001). Over half of the patients, including the old-old and oldest-old, were still on follow-up two years after referral and it was found that survival was only significantly associated with age and comorbidity and was not affected by baseline protein intake. Our study shows that most elderly patients, including old-old and extremely old CKD patients, are spontaneously on diets whose protein content is higher than recommended, and indicates there is a need for nutritional care for this population.

Cochlear implantation in elderly patients: stability of outcome over time

2016 ◽  
Vol 130 (8) ◽  
pp. 706-711 ◽  
Author(s):  
O Hilly ◽  
E Hwang ◽  
L Smith ◽  
D Shipp ◽  
J M Nedzelski ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Elderly Patients ◽  
Cochlear Implantation ◽  
Short Form ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Long Term Results ◽  
Profound Hearing Loss ◽  
Younger Patients ◽  
Over Time

AbstractBackground:Cochlear implantation is the standard of care for treating severe to profound hearing loss in all age groups. There is limited data on long-term results in elderly implantees and the effect of ageing on outcomes. This study compared the stability of cochlear implantation outcome in elderly and younger patients.Methods:A retrospective chart review of cochlear implant patients with a minimum follow up of five years was conducted.Results:The study included 87 patients with a mean follow up of 6.8 years. Of these, 22 patients were older than 70 years at the time of implantation. Hearing in Noise Test scores at one year after implantation were worse in the elderly: 85.3 (aged under 61 years), 80.5 (61–70 years) and 73.6 (aged over 70 years;p= 0.039). The respective scores at the last follow up were 84.8, 85.1 and 76.5 (p= 0.054). Most patients had a stable outcome during follow up. Of the elderly patients, 13.6 per cent improved and none had a reduction in score of more than 20 per cent. Similar to younger patients, elderly patients had improved Short Form 36 Health Survey scores during follow up.Conclusion:Cochlear implantation improves both audiometric outcome and quality of life in elderly patients. These benefits are stable over time.

Phase II Study of Sphingosomal Vincristine in CHOP+/ − Rituximab for Patients with Aggressive Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma (NHL): Promising 3 Year Follow-Up Results in Elderly Patients.

Blood ◽  
2005 ◽  
Vol 106 (11) ◽  
pp. 943-943
Author(s):  
Maria Alma Rodriguez ◽  
Nam H. Dang ◽  
Luis Fayad ◽  
Andre Goy ◽  
Fredrick Hagemeister ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
T Cell ◽  
Elderly Patients ◽  
Phase Ii ◽  
Phase Ii Study ◽  
Cell Lymphoma ◽  
Standard Dose ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
B Cell Lymphoma ◽  
Younger Patients

Abstract Background: Individuals older than 60 years have a worse prognosis than younger patients with aggressive NHL. Vincristine is an active drug in the treatment of malignant lymphomas. Sphingosomal vincristine (SV) was well tolerated with 45% ORR in patients with multiple relapses of aggressive NHL (ASH abst. 412, 1999). Based on these data, a phase II study of CHOP with rituximab (no rituximab for T-cell histology), and substituting SV for free vincristine, was undertaken in patients with previously untreated aggressive NHL. Methods: Aggressive NHL histologies eligible for study were diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLCL), peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL), follicular lymphoma grade 3 (FL gr3), anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL), and indolent lymphomas with aggressive transformation (TL). Patients were treated with standard dose CHOP that included SV 2.0 mg/m2 without dose capping, ± rituximab 375 mg/m2, given every 21 days for 6 to 8 courses (ASH abst. 338, 2002). Results: Of 73 patients enrolled on study, 68 were evaluable for response. Median age was 61 (range 22–80), 36 patients (53%) were &gt;60 years old. Overall, 24 patients (23 elderly) had an IPI score ≥3. Patients received a median of 6 study treatments (range 1–8). Diagnoses were: DLCL = 56; FL gr 3 = 4; PTCL = 4; ALCL = 2 and TL = 2. ORR was 92.6% (63/68 pts) with 55 pts achieving CR (80.1%), 7 CRu (10.3%), and 1 PR (1.5%); 3 patients had PD (4.4%) and 2 were not assessed for response (2.9%). ORR was similar in both elderly (&gt;60) and younger pts (≤60): 91.9% and 93.5% respectively. Neuropathy was generally mild (Gr.1–2). Hematological toxicities were as follows: 56% Gr.3–4 neutropenia, 6% Gr.3 anemia, and 13% Gr.3–4 thrombocytopenia. Toxicites were comparable in elderly and younger patients. The median follow up for the study is 39.6 months (mos), and overall survival 94%. There have been 9 relapses (5 DLCL, 3 T-cell, 1 FL gr3, 1 transformed) for elderly patients and 5 relapses (4 DLCL, 1 T-cell) for patients ≤60. The table below shows progression free survival (PFS) at 3 years, for all histologies, and DLCL by age. There is no difference between the age groups. Conclusions: This regimen, with sphingosomal vincristine in CHOP +/− Rituximab, has a high overall response rate. It is a well-tolerated therapy with mild neurotoxicity for all patients. At 3 years, the PFS in elderly patients with DLCL treated with RCHOP is comparable to that of younger patients, despite a larger fraction of high risk IPI in the older patients. This regimen merits randomized comparison to RCHOP in DLCL. Age (Yrs) All Histologies (n=68) DLCL (n=56) ≤60 84%, CI [66–93] 85%, CI [66–94] &gt;60 83%, CI [66–92] 86%, CI [66–94]

scholarly journals Design and methodology of the Aging Nephropathy Study (AGNES): a prospective cohort study of elderly patients with chronic kidney disease

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Venceslau A. Coelho ◽  
Giovani GN. Santos ◽  
Carla M. Avesani ◽  
Cicero Italo L. Bezerra ◽  
Luana Cristina A. Silva ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Kidney Disease ◽  
Kidney Disease ◽  
Elderly Patients ◽  
Study Design ◽  
Nutritional Assessment ◽  
Dialysis Initiation ◽  
Body Composition Assessment ◽  
Link Type ◽  
Ckd Stage

Abstract Background Renal replacement therapy (RRT) is usually indicated for patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) with glomerular filtration rate below 10 ml/ml/min/1.73m2. However, the need for RRT and timing of dialysis initiation are debatable for patients aged 70 years or older. We here describe the study design and methodology of the Aging Nephropathy Study (AGNES) protocol that aims at evaluating to what extent geriatric-related conditions such as frailty, cognitive dysfunction, and presence of comorbidities have an impact on survival and RRT initiation in this group of patients. In this manuscript we provide detailed information about the AGNES study design and methodology. Methods AGNES is a prospective observational cohort that aim to investigate clinical, biochemical and demographic factors associated with RRT initiation and mortality of patients with CKD stage 4 or 5 who are aged 70 years and older. We plan to include 200 patients over 5 years. Clinically stable outpatients on conservative management for at least 6 months will be recruited from the Nephrogeriatric Clinic at the Hospital das Clinicas da Universidade de Sao Paulo, Brazil. Eligible patients are submitted to a full clinical examination, geriatric assessment, and blood test at baseline. Following the baseline visit the patients are being monitored during an observational follow up period of at least 12 months during which patients will be contacted in the clinic at their regular follow up or by phone until either RRT initiation or death occurs. This cohort includes evaluation of cognition by the education-adjusted 10-point Cognitive Screener (10-CS), frailty by Fried index score, a complete nutritional assessment (by body composition assessment, global subjective assessment and dietary intake), comorbidities by Charlson comorbidity index and biochemical markers including FGF-23 and Klotho. Discussion The AGNES cohort, a real-world study of current clinical practice in elderly patients with advanced CKD prior to dialysis initiation, will shed light into progression of CKD and its complications, indications of RRT and factors determining survival. This investigation will elucidate to what extent geriatric conditions, nutritional status and clinical factors are associated with survival, quality of life and RRT initiation in elderly CKD patients not yet on dialysis. Trial registration Registered on ClinicalTrials.gov on 18 October 2019 (NCT04132492).

scholarly journals Elderly Patients in a Large Nephrology Unit: Who Are Our Old, Old-Old and Oldest-Old Patients?

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (6) ◽  
pp. 1168
Author(s):  
Massimo Torreggiani ◽  
Antoine Chatrenet ◽  
Antioco Fois ◽  
Maria Rita Moio ◽  
Béatrice Mazé ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Kidney Disease ◽  
Kidney Disease ◽  
Elderly Patients ◽  
Kidney Function ◽  
Oldest Old ◽  
World Population ◽  
Referral Pattern ◽  
Specialist Care ◽  
Old Patients ◽  
Ckd Stage

The world population is aging, and the prevalence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) is increasing. Whether this increase is also due to the methods currently being used to assess kidney function in the elderly is still a matter of discussion. We aimed to describe the actual referral pattern of CKD patients in a large nephrology unit and test whether the use of different formulae to estimate kidney function could affect the staging and the need for specialist care in the older subset of our population. In 2019, 1992 patients were referred to our center. Almost 28% of the patients were aged ≥80 and about 6% were ≥90 years old. Among the causes of kidney disease, glomerulonephritis displayed a higher prevalence in younger patients whereas hypertensive or diabetic kidney disease were more prevalent in older patients. The prevalence of referred patients in advanced CKD stages increased with age; estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) decreased with age regardless of which equation was used (chronic kidney disease epidemiology collaboration (CKD-EPI), Lund–Malmö Revised (LMR), modification of diet in renal disease (MDRD), Full Age Spectrum (FAS), or Berlin Initiative Study 1 (BIS)). With CKD-EPI as a reference, MDRD and FAS underestimated the CKD stage while LMR overestimated it. The BIS showed the highest heterogeneity. Considering an eGFR threshold limit of 45 mL/min for defining “significant” CKD in patients over 65 years of age, the variability in CKD staging was 10% no matter which equation was used. Our study quantified the weight of “old” and “old-old” patients on follow-up in a large nephrology outpatient unit and suggested that with the current referral pattern, the type of formula used does not affect the need for CKD care within the context of a relatively late referral, particularly in elderly patients.

ACUTE KIDNEY INJURY IN ELDERLY PATIENTS

2019 ◽  
Vol 72 (8) ◽  
pp. 1466-1472
Author(s):  
Grażyna Kobus ◽  
Jolanta Małyszko ◽  
Hanna Bachórzewska-Gajewska
Keyword(s):  
Acute Kidney Injury ◽  
Renal Failure ◽  
Acute Renal Failure ◽  
Elderly Patients ◽  
Older Patients ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Kidney Injury ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Younger Patients ◽  
Common Cause

Introduction: In the elderly, impairment of kidney function occurs. Renal diseases overlap with anatomic and functional changes related to age-related involutionary processes. Mortality among patients with acute renal injury is approximately 50%, despite advances in treatment and diagnosis of AKI. The aim: To assess the incidence of acute kidney injury in elderly patients and to analyze the causes of acute renal failure depending on age. Materials and methods: A retrospective analysis included medical documentation of patients hospitalized in the Nephrology Clinic during the 6-month period. During this period 452 patients were hospitalized in the clinic. A group of 77 patients with acute renal failure as a reason for hospitalization was included in the study. Results: The prerenal form was the most common cause of AKI in both age groups. In both age groups, the most common cause was dehydration; in the group of patients up to 65 years of age, dehydration was 29.17%; in the group of people over 65 years - 43.39%. Renal replacement therapy in patients with AKI was used in 14.29% of patients. In the group of patients up to 65 years of age hemodialysis was 16.67% and above 65 years of age. -13.21% of patients. The average creatinine level in the group of younger patients at admission was 5.16 ± 3.71 mg / dl, in the group of older patients 3.14 ± 1.63 mg / dl. The size of glomerular filtration GFR in the group of younger patients at admission was 21.14 ± 19.54 ml / min, in the group of older patients 23.34 ± 13.33 ml / min. Conclusions: The main cause of acute kidney injury regardless of the age group was dehydration. Due to the high percentage of AKI in the elderly, this group requires more preventive action, not only in the hospital but also at home.

scholarly journals Safety of High-Dose Dabigatran in Elderly and Younger Patients with a Low Bleeding Risk: A Prospective Observational Study

Cardiology ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 1-5
Author(s):  
Aharon Erez ◽  
Gregory Golovchiner ◽  
Robert Klempfner ◽  
Ehud Kadmon ◽  
Gustavo Ruben Goldenberg ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Observational Study ◽  
Elderly Patients ◽  
Prospective Observational Study ◽  
Bleeding Risk ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
High Dose ◽  
World Population ◽  
Younger Patients ◽  
End Point

<b><i>Introduction:</i></b> In patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) at risk for stroke, dabigatran 150 mg twice a day (DE150) is superior to warfarin for stroke prevention. However, there is paucity of data with respect to bleeding risk at this dose in elderly patients (≥75 years). We aimed to evaluate the safety of DE150 in comparison to warfarin in a real-world population with AF and low bleeding risk (HAS-BLED score ≤2). <b><i>Methods:</i></b> In this prospective observational study, 754 consecutive patients with AF and HAS-BLED score ≤2 were included. We compared outcome of elderly patients (age ≥75 tears) to younger patients (age &#x3c;75 years). The primary end point was the combined incidence of all-cause mortality, stroke, systemic emboli, and major bleeding event during a mean follow-up of 1 year. <b><i>Results:</i></b> There were 230 (30%) elderly patients, 151 patients were treated with warfarin, and 79 were treated with DE150. Fifty-two patients experienced the primary endpoint during the 1-year follow-up. Among the elderly, at 1-year of follow-up, the cumulative event rate of the combined endpoint in the DE150 and warfarin was 8.9 and 15.9% respectively (<i>p</i> = 0.14). After adjustment for age and gender, patients who were treated with DE150 had a nonsignificant difference in the risk for the combined end point as patients treated with warfarin both among the elderly and among the younger population (HR 0.58, 95% C.I = 0.25–1.39 and HR = 1.12, 95% C.I 0.62–2.00, respectively [<i>p</i> for age-group-by-treatment interaction = 0.83). <b><i>Conclusions:</i></b> Our results suggest that Dabigatran 150 mg twice a day can be safely used among elderly AF patients with low bleeding risk.

scholarly journals Chronic kidney disease progression among patients with type 2 diabetes identified in US administrative claims: a population cohort study

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Csaba P Kovesdy ◽  
Danielle Isaman ◽  
Natalia Petruski-Ivleva ◽  
Linda Fried ◽  
Michael Blankenburg ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Type 2 Diabetes ◽  
Chronic Kidney Disease ◽  
Cohort Study ◽  
Kidney Disease ◽  
Disease Progression ◽  
Administrative Claims ◽  
Short Period ◽  
Ckd Stage

Abstract Background Chronic kidney disease (CKD), one of the most common complications of type 2 diabetes (T2D), is associated with poor health outcomes and high healthcare expenditures. As the CKD population increases, a better understanding of the prevalence and progression of CKD is critical. However, few contemporary studies have explored the progression of CKD relative to its onset in T2D patients using established markers derived from real-world care settings. Methods This retrospective, population-based cohort study assessed CKD progression among adults with T2D and with newly recognized CKD identified from US administrative claims data between 1 January 2008 and 30 September 2018. Included were patients with T2D and laboratory evidence of CKD as indicated by the established estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and urine albumin:creatinine ratio (UACR) criteria. Disease progression was described as transitions across the eGFR- and UACR-based stages. Results A total of 65 731 and 23 035 patients with T2D contributed to the analysis of eGFR- and UACR-based CKD stage progression, respectively. CKD worsening was observed in approximately 10–17% of patients over a median follow-up of 2 years. Approximately one-third of patients experienced an increase in eGFR values or a decrease in UACR values during follow-up. Conclusions A relatively high proportion of patients were observed with disease progression over a short period of time, highlighting the need for better identification of patients at risk of rapidly progressive CKD. Future studies are needed to determine the clinical characteristics of these patients to inform earlier diagnostic and therapeutic interventions aimed at slowing disease progression.

scholarly journals Dietary Micronutrients and Risk of Chronic Kidney Disease: A Cohort Study with 12 Year Follow-Up

Nutrients ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (5) ◽  
pp. 1517
Author(s):  
Juyeon Lee ◽  
Kook-Hwan Oh ◽  
Sue-Kyung Park
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Kidney Disease ◽  
Cohort Study ◽  
Kidney Disease ◽  
Epidemiologic Study ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Dietary Guidelines ◽  
Dietary Intakes ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Ckd Stage

We investigated the association between dietary micronutrient intakes and the risk of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in the Ansan-Ansung study of the Korean Genome and Epidemiologic Study (KoGES), a population-based prospective cohort study. Of 9079 cohort participants with a baseline estimate glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) ≥60 mL/min/1.73 m2 and a urine albumin to creatinine ratio (UACR) <300 mg/g and who were not diagnosed with CKD, we ascertained 1392 new CKD cases over 12 year follow-up periods. The risk of CKD according to dietary micronutrient intakes was presented using hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) in a full multivariable Cox proportional hazard models, adjusted for multiple micronutrients and important clinico-epidemiological risk factors. Low dietary intakes of phosphorus (<400 mg/day), vitamin B2 (<0.7 mg/day) and high dietary intake of vitamin B6 (≥1.6 mg/day) and C (≥100 mg/day) were associated with an increased risk of CKD stage 3B and over, compared with the intake at recommended levels (HR = 6.78 [95%CI = 2.18–21.11]; HR = 2.90 [95%CI = 1.01–8.33]; HR = 2.71 [95%CI = 1.26–5.81]; HR = 1.83 [95%CI = 1.00–3.33], respectively). In the restricted population, excluding new CKD cases defined within 2 years, an additional association with low folate levels (<100 µg/day) in higher risk of CKD stage 3B and over was observed (HR = 6.72 [95%CI = 1.40–32.16]). None of the micronutrients showed a significant association with the risk of developing CKD stage 3A. Adequate intake of micronutrients may lower the risk of CKD stage 3B and over, suggesting that dietary guidelines are needed in the general population to prevent CKD.

scholarly journals Optimal Protein Intake in Pre-Dialysis Chronic Kidney Disease Patients with Sarcopenia: An Overview

Nutrients ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 1205
Author(s):  
Yoshitaka Isaka
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Kidney Disease ◽  
High Risk ◽  
Kidney Disease ◽  
Muscle Mass ◽  
Exercise Therapy ◽  
Protein Intake ◽  
Renin Angiotensin System ◽  
Protein Restriction ◽  
Ckd Stage ◽  
End Stage

Multi-factors, such as anorexia, activation of renin-angiotensin system, inflammation, and metabolic acidosis, contribute to malnutrition in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients. Most of these factors, contributing to the progression of malnutrition, worsen as CKD progresses. Protein restriction, used as a treatment for CKD, can reduce the risk of CKD progression, but may worsen the sarcopenia, a syndrome characterized by a progressive and systemic loss of muscle mass and strength. The concomitant rate of sarcopenia is higher in CKD patients than in the general population. Sarcopenia is also associated with mortality risk in CKD patients. Thus, it is important to determine whether protein restriction should be continued or loosened in CKD patients with sarcopenia. We may prioritize protein restriction in CKD patients with a high risk of end-stage kidney disease (ESKD), classified to stage G4 to G5, but may loosen protein restriction in ESKD-low risk CKD stage G3 patients with proteinuria <0.5 g/day, and rate of eGFR decline <3.0 mL/min/1.73 m2/year. However, the effect of increasing protein intake alone without exercise therapy may be limited in CKD patients with sarcopenia. The combination of exercise therapy and increased protein intake is effective in improving muscle mass and strength in CKD patients with sarcopenia. In the case of loosening protein restriction, it is safe to avoid protein intake of more than 1.5 g/kgBW/day. In CKD patients with high risk in ESKD, 0.8 g/kgBW/day may be a critical point of protein intake.

scholarly journals Use of the moving epidemic method (MEM) to assess national surveillance data for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in the Netherlands, 2005 to 2017

2019 ◽  
Vol 24 (20) ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura M Vos ◽  
Anne C Teirlinck ◽  
José E Lozano ◽  
Tomás Vega ◽  
Gé A Donker ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Respiratory Syncytial Virus ◽  
The Netherlands ◽  
Respiratory Infections ◽  
Laboratory Data ◽  
Age Distribution ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Surveillance Data ◽  
Cumulative Number ◽  
Laboratory Surveillance ◽  
Syncytial Virus

Background To control respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), which causes acute respiratory infections, data and methods to assess its epidemiology are important. Aim We sought to describe RSV seasonality, affected age groups and RSV-type distribution over 12 consecutive seasons in the Netherlands, as well as to validate the moving epidemic method (MEM) for monitoring RSV epidemics. Methods We used 2005−17 laboratory surveillance data and sentinel data. For RSV seasonality evaluation, epidemic thresholds (i) at 1.2% of the cumulative number of RSV-positive patients per season and (ii) at 20 detections per week (for laboratory data) were employed. We also assessed MEM thresholds. Results In laboratory data RSV was reported 25,491 times (no denominator). In sentinel data 5.6% (767/13,577) of specimens tested RSV positive. Over 12 seasons, sentinel data showed percentage increases of RSV positive samples. The average epidemic length was 18.0 weeks (95% confidence intervals (CI):  16.3–19.7) and 16.5 weeks (95% CI: 14.0–18.0) for laboratory and sentinel data, respectively. Epidemics started on average in week 46 (95% CI: 45–48) and 47 (95% CI:  46–49), respectively. The peak was on average in the first week of January in both datasets. MEM showed similar results to the other methods. RSV incidence was highest in youngest (0–1 and >1–2 years) and oldest (>65–75 and > 75 years) age groups, with age distribution remaining stable over time. RSV-type dominance alternated every one or two seasons. Conclusions Our findings provide baseline information for immunisation advisory groups. The possibility of employing MEM to monitor RSV epidemics allows prospective, nearly real-time use of surveillance data.

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