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You’re referring to the paper “Characteristics of Children Aged 0 to 23 Months Hospitalized With Respiratory Syncytial Virus” by Wang et al.—a population‑based analysis of RSV hospitalizations during the 2022–23 season in the U.S. Here’s a detailed summary of their findings:

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🧒 Age Distribution & Underlying Conditions

• Among 3,659 hospitalized children aged 0–23 months:

  • 31.2% were 0–2 months

  • 40.0% were 3–11 months

  • 28.9% were 12–23 months (read.qxmd.com)

• Prevalence of underlying medical conditions (UMCs):

  • 0–2 months: 3.4%

  • 3–11 months: 12.6%

  • 12–23 months: 23.4% (read.qxmd.com, Pediatrics)

ICU Admission & Prolonged ICU Stay Risk Factors (12–23 months)

Children aged 12–23 months with prolonged ICU stays (≥3 days) were significantly more likely to have:

• Airway abnormalities

• Cardiovascular disease

• Down syndrome (with or without cardiovascular involvement)

• Feeding tube dependence (read.qxmd.com)

Interpretation & Broader Context

• Infants under 3 months—though fewer in number—can still require hospitalization, often without underlying conditions.

• In older infants and toddlers, pre-existing conditions substantially raise the risk of severe illness and intensive care.

• These findings align with broader epidemiological data showing that RSV is the most frequent cause of bronchiolitis and LRTI in children under two, with highest hospitalisation rates in the youngest infants (especially <6 months) and among those born preterm or with comorbidities (en.wikipedia.org).

🔍 Clinical Implications

• Prevention efforts—like nirsevimab (a long-acting monoclonal antibody) or maternal RSV vaccination—are strongly recommended for infants <8 months and selected high‑risk children aged 8–19 months to reduce hospitalization risk (Pediatrics).

• Identifying high-risk conditions (e.g. congenital heart disease, Down syndrome, feeding tube dependence) in 12–23 month‑olds is vital to prioritize prophylaxis and early monitoring.

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✅ Summary Table

Age Group (months)	Hospitalized %	UMC Rate	Risk Factors for Severe Outcome
0–2	~31%	3.4%	Age-related immaturity
3–11	~40%	12.6%	Some UMCs emerging
12–23	~29%	23.4%	Airway/CV anomalies, Down syndrome, feeding tubes

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If you’d like insights into trends before or after COVID‑19, comparisons across countries, or details on impact of forthcoming RSV vaccines, I’d be happy to dive deeper.