Work

Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) Hospitalization Seasonal Patterns and Economic Burden in the US: Implications for Further Optimizing the Use of RSV Preventives

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: The CDC has recommended immunizations to protect infants during the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) season, which varies annually and geographically. Seasonal differences in RSV hospitalizations among infants are not well studied. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study identified infants < 12 months old hospitalized with RSV from the PINC AI Healthcare Database during the 2018-2023 surveillance years (1 July-30 June). Monthly RSV hospitalizations were stratified by U.S. census division and age group (<3, 3-5, 6-8, 9-11 months). Patient characteristics, healthcare resource utilization (HCRU), and cost were compared between typical in-season months (October-March) and typical off-season months (April-September) for RSV hospitalizations. RESULTS: = 2054) of off-season hospitalizations. Seasonal patterns were similar across age groups. Off-season hospitalizations were associated with longer hospital length of stay (6.9 vs. 4.9 days) and more supplemental oxygen (59.1% vs. 55.5%), intensive care unit admission (30.1% vs. 26.8%), and mechanical ventilation/airflow usage (20.3% vs. 16.3%). Mean hospitalization costs were 40% higher during off-season ($17,911 vs. $12,757). In the surveillance years before (2018-2020) and after (2022-2023) the COVID-19 pandemic, off-season costs and HCRU were consistently higher than in-season. CONCLUSIONS: There is an unmet need among the 1 in 5 infants with off-season RSV hospitalizations, which are associated with higher HCRU and costs. Current recommendations on RSV preventives offer limited protection for infants exposed to RSV outside the typical season.

Source: Vaccines

DOI: 10.3390/vaccines13040366

Authors: Amy W. Law, Jay Lin, Jennifer Judy, Sarah J. Pugh, Alejandro Cane

Institution: Pfizer (United States)

Language: English

Topic: Respiratory viral infections research

Subfield: Epidemiology

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $3,258