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Study Finds Increased Economic Impact of RSV Among Older Adults
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Key Takeaways
- RSV infection leads to higher direct costs than other ARIs in older adults, especially those with comorbidities.
- RSV vaccination could significantly reduce severe and non-severe cases, decreasing hospitalizations and healthcare costs.
RSV infection resulted in higher costs among specific age groups, especially patients aged 70 to 80 years.
Individuals aged 60 years and older are particularly vulnerable to respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), which can lead to severe acute respiratory infections (ARIs), hospitalizations, and substantial health care costs. However, new study findings published in Diseases announced that RSV infection could also result in significantly higher direct costs compared to other ARIs among older adults.1
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RSV infection accounts for an estimated 470,000 hospitalizations and 33,000 deaths annually in industrialized countries, causing severe respiratory disease in elderly individuals with chronic conditions.1 Severe RSV infection could spread to the lower respiratory tract, leading to pneumonia or bronchiolitis. Individuals often present symptoms of rapid or difficulty breathing; fever; severe cough; wheezing; or cyanosis.2
The respiratory infection imposes a substantial economic burden on health care systems globally, with significant direct and indirect costs associated with medical care for older adults. Although the clinical and economic impact of RSV has been studied, existing research mainly focuses on pediatric populations or specific high-risk groups, leaving a gap in understanding its effects on older adults.1
In Spain, RSV-related hospitalizations represent a considerable expense for the National Health System. To further assess the clinical and economic burden of RSV compared to other ARIs in this population, researchers conducted a retrospective, multicenter observational study using electronic medical records of older adults that were hospitalized for ARIs, including RSV, in 18 university hospitals located in Madrid, León, Cataluña, Galicia, and Andalucía.1
Study participants needed to be aged 60 years or older at time of admission; have a confirmed diagnosis of RSV infection through polymerase chain reaction (PCR) or antigen testing during the study period; and require hospitalization primarily for respiratory symptoms attributed to RSV, as documented in their medical records. Additionally, sociodemographic and clinical variables were collected to assess comorbidity-related factors that could influence economic burden.1
The study authors noted that efficacy values from prior research suggest that RSV vaccination could substantially reduce severe and non-severe RSV cases in older adults, with estimated reductions in severe cases of 94.1% in the first year and 82.7% in the second, and non-severe case reductions of 82.6% and 74.5%, respectively. These efficacy rates were then applied to the current study population to estimate the potential impact of vaccination on hospitalizations and other RSV-related outcomes.1
The findings demonstrated that RSV infections resulted in higher costs in specific age groups, especially among patients aged 70 to 80 years. Regarding comorbidities, asthma and smoking history were linked with increased costs in RSV cases compared to other ARIs. Older individuals with other comorbid conditions like heart disease, diabetes, and chronic respiratory diseases also experience longer hospital stays and a higher chance of requiring intensive care, contributing to financial burdens.1
The results emphasize the importance of preventive strategies, like RSV vaccination, which has the potential to decrease immediate costs associated with hospitalizations while enhancing the quality of life for older adults with comorbidities. Previous cost-effectiveness studies demonstrated that vaccination programs could aid reductions in RSV-related hospitalizations, ICU admissions, and overall costs.1
Currently, the CDC recommends a single dose of any FDA-approved RSV vaccine—RSVreF3 (Arexvy; GSK), RSVpreF (Abrysvo; Pfizer), or mRNA-1345 (mRESVIA; Moderna)—to all adults aged 75 years and older and adults aged 60 to 74 who are at increased risk for severe RSV.3,4
The findings suggest that the extended duration of protection offered by RSV vaccines, beyond a single season, could reduce the need for frequent treatments and hospitalizations, lessening the burden on health care systems. However, the study authors noted that further research is needed to address the impact of vaccination on indirect costs to highlight the financial benefits of RSV prevention.1
REFERENCES
1. Burden and Economic Impact of Respiratory Viral Infections in Adults Aged 60 and Older: A Focus on RSV. National Library of Medicine. News release. Published January 28, 2025. Accessed February 28, 2025. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11854486/
2. Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). Mayo Clinic. News release. Published October 4, 2023. Accessed February 28, 2025. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/respiratory-syncytial-virus/symptoms-causes/syc-20353098
3. RSV Vaccines. CDC. News release. Published August 30, 2024. Accessed February 28, 2025. https://www.cdc.gov/rsv/vaccines/index.html
4. Ferruggia K. Pharmacy Times. Published November 14, 2024. Accessed February 28, 2025. https://www.pharmacytimes.com/view/researchers-assess-burden-of-rsv-hospitalization-prior-to-vaccine-introduction
