NEW YORK, December 2, 2023 – Hospitalization for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) or influenza carries a surprisingly long tail of health risks for adults 50 and older, considerably increasing their chances of death, heart problems, and worsening respiratory conditions for up to a year after acute infection. That’s the takeaway from a new retrospective study published last week.
RSV’s Lasting Impact: Beyond the Initial Infection
A new study reveals that RSV hospitalization in older adults poses risks comparable to influenza, highlighting the need for preventative measures.
- hospitalized RSV patients faced a nearly 11-fold higher risk of death within the first 30 days compared to uninfected peers.
- At one year post-hospitalization, the risk of death rose to 26.3% for RSV patients, similar to the 23.3% observed in flu patients.
- RSV was linked to a consistently higher risk of exacerbations for both asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) than flu or no infection.
- Hospital readmission rates were notably higher for both RSV and flu patients, reaching 26.1% and 23.3% respectively at three months.
Q: How does hospitalization for RSV compare to the flu for older adults?
A: This study found that severe RSV had a significant impact on clinical outcomes similar to that of influenza, suggesting that RSV prevention could offer benefits beyond simply avoiding the initial illness.
A Cascade of Complications
Researchers from GSK and the Analysis Group analyzed claims data from October 2015 to June 2023,comparing outcomes among 14,759 adults hospitalized with RSV,77,468 with influenza,and 73,795 controls without acute respiratory infections. The average age of those hospitalized with RSV (76.5 years) and flu (75.4 years) was higher than the control group (69.5 years).
The study revealed a substantially elevated risk of all-cause death among RSV patients, peaking in the immediate aftermath of hospitalization. The adjusted hazard ratio for death was 10.8 within the first 0 to 30 days. At 30 days and extending to one year post-hospitalization,the risk of death climbed fro
Q: What were the key findings of the study?
A: The study revealed a substantially elevated risk of all-cause death,heart attack,and respiratory exacerbations among older adults hospitalized with RSV compared to those with flu or no infection.
