# Respiratory Syncytial Virus Prevalence and Genotypic Distribution in the Countries of the Former Soviet Union: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

## TL;DR

This study reviews RSV prevalence and genetic types in former Soviet Union countries, finding high rates in young children and global genetic patterns.

## Contribution

The study provides the first integrated summary of RSV epidemiology across the Former Soviet Union.

## Key findings

- RSV prevalence is high in children under 6 years old, declining with age.
- Genotypic data shows dominance of global clades A.D and B.D in the region.
- Seasonal RSV patterns were disrupted by the pandemic but are stabilizing.

## Abstract

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is among leading global causes of lower respiratory tract infections, yet data from Russia and other states of the Former Soviet Union (FSU) remain fragmented and structurally inconsistent. This systematic review aims to map and synthesize existing evidence on RSV epidemiology and genotypic distribution across the FSU. Published studies from eLIBRARY and PubMed databases queried for RSV prevalence data, together with public health surveillance datasets, were used to summarize RSV prevalence research across eight FSU countries. Random-effects meta-analysis across age strata showed high prevalence in children before 6 (21%) and a progressive decline with age, which is in agreement with global data. Prevalence estimates showed a high degree of variability partially explained by study scope and clinical presentation. We observed COVID-19-related seasonal disruptions of RSV seasonality, followed by gradual post-pandemic stabilization. Genotypic data reflects global trends with two cosmopolitan clades, A.D and B.D, and their descendants, dominating in the region. The review is limited by uneven geographical and temporal coverage, and scarce data on adults. The review provides the first integrated summary of RSV epidemiology across the FSU and underscores the need for expanded regional surveillance and genomic reporting.