A Long-term Observational Study Evaluating the Presentation and Management of Acute Respiratory Tract Infections in Primary Care Across Europe

Launched by EUROPEAN CLINICAL RESEARCH ALLIANCE FOR INFECTIOUS DISEASES (ECRAID) · Feb 21, 2024

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

The POS-ARI-PC study is a long-term research project that aims to understand how acute respiratory tract infections (ARI), which include illnesses like coughs and sore throats, are presented and managed in primary care across Europe. This study is particularly important because ARIs are the most common reason people visit their doctors, and it will help gather valuable information about how these infections are diagnosed and treated. By doing so, the study hopes to create a strong foundation for future research on improving the care of ARIs.

Anyone of any age who has symptoms suggesting an acute respiratory infection may be eligible to participate, as long as their symptoms have lasted less than 28 days for lower respiratory infections (like a persistent cough) or less than 14 days for upper respiratory infections (like a sore throat). Participants will need to provide informed consent and may have a swab taken for testing. It’s important to note that if someone is in serious condition or needs to be hospitalized, they might not be eligible, but they can still provide a swab if time allows. Overall, this study will not only enhance our understanding of ARIs but also help improve how they are treated in the future.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• POS-ARI-PC AUDIT:
• Inclusion Criteria:
• Eligible patients will be of any age consulting (telephone, video, face-to-face) with a participating health care facility with:
• • Symptoms suggestive of an acute lower RTI with cough as predominant symptom and with illness duration less than 28 days, AND/OR
• • Symptoms suggestive of an acute upper RTI with sore throat and/or coryza as predominant symptom and with illness duration of less than 14 days AND/OR
• • Patients otherwise suspected of COVID-19, influenza or RSV.
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • Patients will not be eligible for if they have withdrawn their consent for anonymous data collection for research by their health care facility.
• POS-ARI-PC CORE:
• Inclusion criteria:
• Eligible patients will be of any age consulting (telephone, video, face to face) with a participating primary health care facility with:
• • Symptoms suggestive of an acute lower respiratory infection with cough as the predominant symptom, with illness duration less than 28 days, AND/OR
• • Symptoms suggestive of an acute upper respiratory infection with sore throat and/or coryza as the predominant symptom, with illness duration of less than 14 days AND/OR
• • Other symptoms suggestive of COVID-19, Influenza, RSV AND
• • Participant or legal guardian(s) willing and able to provide informed consent and comply with study procedures
• Exclusion criteria:
• Patients will not be eligible if:
• • According to the judgement of the recruiting clinician, they will not be able comply with study procedures, for example because they do not understand the language in which the study is being conducted locally (and have no one to help and translate for them); have a serious psychiatric disorder; or are terminally ill
• • Symptoms of presumed non-infective origin
• • Participant requires admission to hospital on the day of inclusion
• • Additional in/exclusion criteria might apply to embedded studies and will be described in the SSA or ISA.
• POS-ARI-PC-001:
• • Symptoms and Duration Symptoms suggestive of an acute lower RTI with new or increased cough as the predominant symptom, with illness duration ≤10 days; AND/OR Symptoms suggestive of an acute upper RTI with sore throat and/or coryza as the predominant symptom, with illness duration ≤10 days;
• • Age Aged 60 years and over OR Aged 50 to 59 years and have a long-term health condition which makes them eligible for the yearly influenza vaccination under the national influenza vaccination programme;
• • Consent Willing and able to provide informed consent and have a swab taken.
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • As per the POS-ARI-PC CORE Protocol, with one exception: patients needing hospitalisation can be recruited into the study if timing allows. Patients can provide a swab and decide not to participate in the follow-up procedures.