Medical Bulletin 21/July/2025 - Video

Vaccinating pregnant women against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) has led to a significant drop in newborn hospital admissions for severe lung infections, according to a new study published in The Lancet Child and Adolescent Health.

RSV is a widespread virus that typically causes mild cold-like symptoms but can lead to serious conditions such as bronchiolitis in infants. It remains the leading infectious cause of baby hospitalisations in the UK and globally. Protection during early infancy is critical, especially as RSV can result in intensive care admissions for the youngest patients.

The research assessed the real-world effectiveness of the RSV vaccine during pregnancy. The team studied 537 babies admitted to hospitals across England and Scotland during the 2024-2025 RSV season. Of these, 391 tested positive for RSV. The analysis revealed that mothers of RSV-negative babies were more than twice as likely to have received the vaccine before delivery compared to mothers of RSV-positive babies 41% versus 19%.

Further findings showed that when the vaccine was administered more than 14 days before delivery, it provided a 72% reduction in hospital admissions. Even when given at any time before birth, the vaccine still conferred a 58% protective effect. Experts recommend vaccination from 28 weeks of pregnancy to ensure optimal transfer of protective antibodies to the baby, although the jab can be safely administered up to birth.

The study underscores the vaccine’s potential as a key public health tool in reducing the burden of RSV in infants.

Dr Thomas Williams, study lead from the University of Edinburgh’s Institute for Regeneration and Repair, and Paediatric Consultant at the Royal Hospital for Children and Young People in Edinburgh, said: “With the availability of an effective RSV vaccine shown to significantly reduce the risk of hospitalisation in young infants in the UK, there is an excellent opportunity for pregnant women to get vaccinated and protect themselves and their infants from RSV bronchiolitis this coming winter.”

Reference: Bivalent prefusion F vaccination in pregnancy and respiratory syncytial virus hospitalisation in infants in the UK: results of a multicentre, test-negative, case-control study, Williams, Thomas CMiddleton, Catriona M et al., The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health, Volume 0, Issue 0

Can High Blood Pressure During Pregnancy Shorten Breastfeeding Duration?

Women diagnosed with hypertensive disorders during pregnancy (HDP) are less likely to initiate or continue breastfeeding, potentially missing out on long-term heart health benefits, according to a new study published in JAMA Network Open.

Hypertensive disorders in pregnancy disproportionately impact non-Hispanic Black/African American and American Indian/Alaskan Native women, contributing to significant health inequities. Importantly, Hypertensive disorders in pregnancy also increase long-term risks for cardiovascular disease, stroke, and kidney disorders.

In this study, researchers from Yale School of Medicine analyzed data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS), covering over 205,000 participants who gave birth between 2016 and 2021. The sample represented a weighted population of nearly 11 million women from 43 states, Washington D.C., and Puerto Rico. Hypertensive disorders in pregnancy was defined by self-reported high blood pressure, preeclampsia, or eclampsia before or during pregnancy. Breastfeeding initiation and duration were measured through postpartum survey responses.

The study found that women with hypertensive disorders in pregnancy had 11% higher odds of never breastfeeding. Among those who initiated, they were 17% more likely to stop early, with a median breastfeeding duration 17 weeks shorter than their counterparts without hypertensive disorders in pregnancy.

“This paper provides foundational knowledge on which to build future studies to understand how our health systems can best support those individuals with hypertension in reaching their personal infant feeding goals. As a system, we must do better about supporting women with hypertensive disorders in pregnancy in reaching whatever their infant feeding goal may be, particularly if it involves any amount of breastfeeding. Such support could promise long term improvements in health outcomes for many pregnant individuals and their infants, especially among communities with high risk of cardiometabolic disease and breastfeeding cessation,” said Deanna Nardella, an instructor of pediatrics and physician-scientist with Yale School of Medicine and first author of the study.

Reference: Nardella D, Canavan ME, Taylor SN, Sharifi M. Hypertensive Disorders of Pregnancy and Breastfeeding Among US Women. JAMA Netw Open. 2025;8(7):e2521902. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2025.21902

Heart Healthy Habits May Shield You from Cancer, Dementia, Diabetes and More: Study

Maintaining optimal cardiovascular health not only protects the heart but also improves overall physical and psychological well-being, according to a new study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association.

The study, conducted by Dr. Liliana Aguayo and colleagues at Emory’s Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing and Global Diabetes Research Center, analyzed data from nearly 500 peer-reviewed studies. It examined how adherence to the American Heart Association’s Life’s Simple 7™ and its updated Life’s Essential 8™, which now includes sleep affects long-term health outcomes beyond the cardiovascular system. These metrics include not smoking, healthy eating, regular physical activity, maintaining a healthy weight, and managing blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar, and sleep.

Key findings revealed that individuals who follow heart-healthy behaviors are more likely to retain brain, lung, vision, hearing, and muscle function as they age. They also have lower stress levels and cortisol, fewer chronic illnesses like cancer, Alzheimer’s, diabetes, and depression, and face reduced risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes and mobility issues.

Moreover, these individuals report a higher quality of life and lower healthcare costs due to decreased medical utilization and non-cardiovascular disease-related expenses.

The study highlights the wide-ranging benefits of even modest lifestyle changes. It calls for expanded research on underrepresented populations, including children and pregnant women, to better understand the broader impact of cardiovascular health.

“While we recently learned that heart-health and brain health are closely tied, in this review we found that almost every organ system and bodily function from head to toe benefit from a heart-healthy lifestyle,” said Aguayo, the study’s lead author.

Reference: JOUR Cardiovascular Health, 2010 to 2020: A Systematic Review of a Decade of Research on Life's Simple 7, Aguayo, Liliana, Cotoc, Crina et al., Journal of the American Heart Association

doi: 10.1161/JAHA.124.038566