NEW research highlights the significant impact of Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) vaccines in reducing severe respiratory illness among older adults, a group disproportionately affected by RSV. This real-world study shows that vaccinated seniors experience fewer hospitalizations, ICU admissions, and severe complications from RSV compared to their unvaccinated counterparts, underscoring the vaccine’s value in preventing critical health declines among older populations.
RSV is increasingly recognized as a serious global health threat, particularly for those over 60 with underlying cardiopulmonary conditions. Recent estimates show that RSV causes approximately 5.2 million acute respiratory infections globally each year in older adults, resulting in nearly 470,000 hospitalizations and 33,000 in-hospital deaths. In the United States, the burden is also substantial, with 600,000 to 1 million doctor visits, up to 177,000 hospitalizations, and 14,000 deaths annually among those 65 and older.
This study further reveals that RSV-related lower respiratory tract infections in seniors can be more severe than both COVID-19 and influenza in certain respects. Older adults hospitalized with RSV are 2–3 times more likely to require supplemental oxygen, and their odds of needing intensive care or mechanical ventilation are significantly higher than for those hospitalized with influenza.
The findings support expanding RSV vaccination among high-risk adults to lessen the virus’s toll on both patient health and healthcare resources. For healthcare professionals, these results emphasize the importance of discussing RSV vaccination with older patients, particularly those with chronic heart or lung conditions.
As RSV vaccines become more accessible, healthcare providers may see meaningful reductions in RSV-related morbidity, relieving pressures on hospitals and ultimately improving patients’ quality of life and outcomes.
Reference: Branche AR. Real-world effectiveness studies of the benefit of RSV vaccines. Lancet. 2024;404(10462):P1498-1500.
Anaya Malik | AMJ
