OBJECTIVES: To analyze the temporal trend of RSV mortality rate (RSV-MR) in Colombia between 2012 and 2021.

METHODS: A time series study of MR-RSV was conducted in Colombia for the period between years 2012 and 2021. Mortality data were extracted from the vital records from the DANE (Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadistica). The ICD-10 codes included in the analysis were divided into 2 groups: 1. RSV- specific deaths (J21.0, J12.1, B97.4, J20.4), and 2. Deaths by unspecified acute bronchiolitis (J21.8, J21.9). Trends of MR-RSV, annual percent change (APC) and average annual percent change (AAPC) were estimated using join point regression.

RESULTS: Between 2012-2021 there were 986 deaths related to RSV. Most of them (69%), occurred in infants 1 to 5 months of age and only 25.8% were classified as RSV-specific. There was a clear trend to reduction in the number of deaths during the study period. Compared to 2012, in 2021 MR-RSV decreased by 32% for both sexes, by 36% for men, and by 27% for women. The join point regression showed that AAPC (2012-2021) for both sexes was -6.1% (95%CI: -14.0, 1.1) , for men -7.5% (95%CI: -17.5, 2.9), and for women -5.3% (95%CI: -9.5, -1.8)

CONCLUSIONS: RSV mortality decreased between 2012 and 2021 and the reduction started in 2015. Further research is needed to stablish which is the role of palivizumab and other interventions in this positive outcome for public health.