Cost of Hospitalization Associated With Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection Versus Influenza Infection in Hospitalized Older Adults

J Infect Dis. 2020 Aug 17;222(6):962-966. doi: 10.1093/infdis/jiaa183.

Abstract

Despite the severity of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) disease in older adults, data on its costs are limited. We compared hospitalization costs for 2090 adults aged ≥ 60 years hospitalized with RSV or influenza by assigning direct health care costs. Hospitalization with RSV was associated with longer hospitalization and increased frequency of diagnosis-related groups for pulmonary complications, resulting in costs at least as great as those for influenza ($16 034 vs $15 163; 95% confidence interval for the difference, -$811 to $2547). Awareness of RSV disease burden in adults is needed to facilitate vaccination and treatment when they become available.

Keywords: respiratory syncytial virus; adult; cost; hospitalization; influenza.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Age Factors
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Coinfection / epidemiology*
  • Comorbidity
  • Female
  • Geriatric Assessment
  • Health Care Costs*
  • Hospitalization*
  • Humans
  • Influenza, Human / epidemiology*
  • Influenza, Human / virology*
  • Male
  • Orthomyxoviridae
  • Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections / epidemiology*
  • Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections / virology*
  • Respiratory Syncytial Virus, Human
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Risk Factors
  • Seasons