Two Studies Show Severity of RSV in Adults

Two recent studies demonstrate the “potential severity of [RSV] infections in adults.” CIDRAP has the news.

The first study found that “adults hospitalized for RSV infection had a significantly higher risk of in-patient mortality and adverse respiratory and kidney outcomes than those hospitalized for flu.” During the study period, 41,206 and 3,565 patients were hospitalized for flu and RSV respectively. Mortality was higher in the RSV cohort, with a “10.1% death rate, compared to 5.5% for flu. RSV infection showed a 52% higher risk of death during hospitalization.” Secondary bacterial pneumonia rates were also significantly higher in the RSV group.

Flu vaccination was “protective against all severe outcomes for those hospitalized with flu” as well. Even unvaccinated influenza patients had on average better outcomes than those with RSV.

The second study tied RSV hospitalization with “an increased risk of cardiovascular events, particularly in patients with comorbidities.” Of the 471 adults hospitalized with RSV involved in the study, “37% experienced cardiovascular events (CVEs) within 28 days of admission, for a total of 270 independent CVEs. Eighty-eight percent of events happened within 7 days of admission.” The most common CVEs were congestive heart failure, atrial fibrillation, and myocardial infarction. Plus, overall outcomes were “much worse for patients with CVEs compared to those without.”