In patients aged 50+, RSV may be associated with serious lung impairment, cardiac events, and a decline in performance of activities of daily living—especially
for those with underlying medical conditions.1-5
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Adults aged 60+ are at high risk for complications including pneumonia following RSV infection.
RSV can lead to serious lung impairment. Pneumonia, chronic respiratory disease, and hypoxia/dyspnea were among the most common RSV-related complications in
42.7%
of ≥40,000 adults aged 60+ following RSV infection1*
Retrospective, longitudinal cohort study of Medicare beneficiaries (N=40,525) ≥60 years with MA RSV-LRTD (2007–2019). Analysis limited to patients with no reported RSV-related complications in the prior 6 months. Mean time to first complication: 1.1 months.2
MA=medically attended; RSV=respiratory syncytial virus; RSV–LRTD=respiratory syncytial virus–associated lower respiratory tract disease.
RSV is easily spread, and is an underestimated driver of hospitalization in adults 50+ every year.6-8
110,000- 180,000
RSV-related hospitalizations
in adults aged 50+ each year6*
1 in 4 patients
hospitalized for LRTD symptoms were tested for RSV7†
Nearly all had at least 1 underlying medical condition, and for those with certain conditions, the risk of RSV-related hospitalizations can greatly increase.2,9
Data estimates from the 2016 through 2023 RSV seasons. Rates of RSV-associated hospitalizations in RSV-NET were adjusted for underdetection due to testing practices. Given atypical RSV circulation, the 2020-2021 and 2021-2022 seasons were excluded from this range. RSV vaccines first became available during the 2023-2024 RSV season.6
RSV testing level reflects 78.4% of the 937 hospitals included in a retrospective analysis of U.S. hospital data evaluating adults aged 65+ who were hospitalized for LRTD from 2016 to 2019. The median percentage of LRTD hospitalizations with RSV testing was 4.3%.7
LRTD=lower respiratory tract disease; RSV=respiratory syncytial virus; RSV-NET=Respiratory Syncytial Virus Hospitalization Surveillance Network.
Severe RSV infections may be associated with consequences that could include acute cardiac events.
Among adults aged 50+
hospitalized for RSV, nearly2:
1 in 4
experienced an
ACUTE CARDIAC EVENT
and among adults with
no previous documented CVD2
1 in 12
experienced an
ACUTE CARDIAC EVENT
Retrospective study (N=6248) of hospitalizations reported to RSV-NET, a CDC platform for population-based surveillance in 58 counties in 12 geographically diverse states, representing approximately 8% of the U.S. population. Detailed clinical information was collected from all adult RSV-NET cases between the 2014-2015 and 2017-2018 RSV seasons, as well as the 2022-2023 season.2
CDC=Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; CVD=cardiovascular disease; RSV=respiratory syncytial virus; RSV-NET=Respiratory Syncytial Virus Hospitalization Surveillance Network.
After RSV-related hospitalization of adults3*
rehospitalized after 6 months3†
discharged to skilled nursing facilities3‡
experienced a decline
in performance of activities
of daily living3§
In a systematic literature review and meta-analysis assessing long-term complications in adults within 1 year of an RSV-related hospitalization; 21 studies capturing data from 1990-2019 were eligible for this review.3
n=5 studies.3
n=2 studies.3
n=1 study. Functional status was assessed using the Lawton-Brody Instrumental Activities of Daily Living scale, which measures performance of functions such as shopping, cooking, and managing finances, and the Barthel Index for Activities of Daily Living scale, which measures performance of functions such as feeding, continence and toilet use, dressing, bathing, and mobility.3,10
RSV=respiratory syncytial virus.
Compared with influenza,
patients with RSV had11*:
Higher rate of ICU admission
Increased incidence of pneumonia
Longer
hospital stays
Greater need
for oxygen
supplementation
Unlike influenza, RSV has no
approved antiviral treatment12
In a study of 645 hospitalized patients aged 60+ with RSV and 1878 hospitalized patients aged 60+ with influenza, patients with RSV were more likely to have hospital stays that exceeded 7 days (P<0.001), develop pneumonia (P<0.001), be admitted to the ICU (P=0.023), and require >5 liters of oxygen per minute during hospitalizations (P<0.001).11
ICU=intensive care unit; RSV=respiratory syncytial virus.
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When you know the potential burden of RSV, it makes sense to prioritize protection by discussing the risks of RSV with your eligible patients.
CDC recommended as a single dose for adults aged 75+ and adults 50-74 who are at increased risk of severe RSV disease13*
Consider making RSV vaccination a priority in your practice today.
RSV vaccination should be given only to adults who have not yet received a dose of RSV vaccine. Providers can give the RSV vaccine year-round. However, RSV vaccination will have the most benefit if given in late summer or early fall before RSV usually starts to spread in the community.14
CDC=Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; RSV=respiratory syncytial virus.
References: 1. DeMartino JK, Lafeuille MH, Emond B, et al. Respiratory syncytial virus–related complications and healthcare costs among a Medicare-insured population in the United States. Open Forum Infect Dis. 2023;10(5):ofad203. 2. Woodruff RC, Melgar M, Pham H, et al. Acute cardiac events in hospitalized older adults with respiratory syncytial virus infection. JAMA Intern Med. 2024;184(6):602-611. 3. Ubamadu E, Betancur E, Gessner BD, et al. Respiratory syncytial virus sequelae among adults in high-income countries: a systematic literature review and meta-analysis. Infect Dis Ther. 2024;13:1399-1417. 4. Britton A, Melgar M, Roper L. Evidence to recommendations framework (EtR): RSV vaccination in adults aged 50–59 years, 60–74 years, and 75 years and older. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Published June 26, 2024. Accessed December 15, 2025. https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/157857 5. U.S. Census Bureau. Age and sex composition in the United States: 2023. Updated February 12, 2025. Accessed February 5, 2026. https://www.census.gov/data/tables/2023/demo/age-and-sex/2023-age-sex-composition.html 6. Havers FP, Whitaker M, Melgar M, et al. Burden of respiratory syncytial virus–associated hospitalizations in US adults, October 2016 to September 2023. JAMA Netw Open. 2024;7(11):e2444756. 7. Rozenbaum MH, Judy J, Tran D, et al. Low levels of RSV testing among adults hospitalized for lower respiratory tract infection in the United States. Infect Dis Ther. 2023;12:677-685. 8. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. How RSV spreads. Updated July 8, 2025. Accessed December 2, 2025. https://www.cdc.gov/rsv/causes/index.html 9. Havers FP, Whitaker M, Melgar M, et al. Characteristics and outcomes among adults aged ≥60 years hospitalized with laboratory-confirmed respiratory syncytial virus - RSV-NET, 12 states, July 2022-June 2023. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2023;72(40):1075-1082. 10. Branche AR, Saiman L, Walsh EE, et al. Change in functional status associated with respiratory syncytial virus infection in hospitalized older adults. Influenza Other Respir Viruses. 2022;16(6):1151-1160. 11. Ackerson B, Tseng HF, Sy LS, et al. Severe morbidity and mortality associated with respiratory syncytial virus versus influenza infection in hospitalized older adults. Clin Infect Dis. 2019;69(2):197-203. 12. Talbot HK, Belongia EA, Walsh EE, Schaffner W. Respiratory syncytial virus in older adults: a hidden annual epidemic. Infect Dis Clin Pract. 2016;24(6):295-302. 13. Britton A, Melgar M, Surie D. Evidence to recommendations framework (EtR): RSV vaccination in adults aged 50-59 years. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Published April 16, 2025. Accessed December 2, 2025. https://www.cdc.gov/acip/downloads/slides-2025-04-15-16/06-Melgar-Surie-adult-rsv-508.pdf 14. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. RSV vaccine guidance for adults. Updated July 8, 2025. Accessed December 2, 2025. https://www.cdc.gov/rsv/hcp/vaccine-clinical-guidance/adults.html
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