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RSV tied to high complication, death rates in hospitalized older adults
Laine Bergeson
Today at 1:30 p.m.
Influenza, General
Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV)
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is associated with high rates of complications and death among older adults hospitalized with the condition, and older RSV patients may have worse health outcomes than older adults hospitalized for influenza, according to a new study published in Infectious Diseases and Therapy.
For the analysis, researchers from Tel Aviv University examined data from adults aged 60 years and older hospitalized with laboratory-confirmed RSV or flu at a large medical center in Isreal from 2016 through 2023. The study included 817 RSV-positive patients and 2,113 influenza-positive patients.
Serious outcomes common
Among patients hospitalized with RSV, serious outcomes were common. Admission to the intensive care unit (ICU) was required for 10.6% of patients, vasopressor support (using medication to raise blood pressure when it drops dangerously low) for 6.5%, and mechanical ventilation for 6.4%.
Tachyarrhythmia (abnormally fast heart rate) occurred in 17.7% of RSV patients, and 9.9% experienced ischemia. The 30-day mortality rate for patients with RSV was 11.9%, and the 90-day mortality rate was 18.8%.
The 30-day mortality rate for patients with RSV was 11.9%, and the 90-day mortality rate was 18.8%.
Several factors were linked to worse outcomes in those hospitalized with RSV, including chronic pulmonary disease, lower respiratory tract infection, hypothermia (low body temperature), elevated pulse, and increased creatine levels, which might signal impaired kidney function.
Compared with flu, RSV was associated with a slightly higher risk of severe outcomes. RSV patients had a roughly 3% higher risk of adverse outcomes compared with flu patients and about a 2% higher risk of dying within 90 days.
Hospitalized RSV patients had poorer baseline health
In the study, older adults hospitalized with RSV initially tended to be in worse health than those with flu. “They were generally older, more frequently immunocompromised, had a history of prior hospitalizations, and exhibited higher Charlson comorbidity scores,” the authors write.
“These findings align with previous studies, which have similarly reported that older adults with RSV are more likely to be immunocompromised, have elevated comorbidity burdens, and experience higher rates of chronic respiratory and cardiovascular conditions than their counterparts hospitalized with influenza,” they added.
The results, say the authors, support the promotion of RSV vaccination for older adults, especially those with underlying cardiovascular or pulmonary conditions.
RSV tied to high complication, death rates in hospitalized older adults
Laine Bergeson
Today at 1:30 p.m.
Influenza, General
Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV)
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is associated with high rates of complications and death among older adults hospitalized with the condition, and older RSV patients may have worse health outcomes than older adults hospitalized for influenza, according to a new study published in Infectious Diseases and Therapy.
For the analysis, researchers from Tel Aviv University examined data from adults aged 60 years and older hospitalized with laboratory-confirmed RSV or flu at a large medical center in Isreal from 2016 through 2023. The study included 817 RSV-positive patients and 2,113 influenza-positive patients.
Serious outcomes common
Among patients hospitalized with RSV, serious outcomes were common. Admission to the intensive care unit (ICU) was required for 10.6% of patients, vasopressor support (using medication to raise blood pressure when it drops dangerously low) for 6.5%, and mechanical ventilation for 6.4%.
Tachyarrhythmia (abnormally fast heart rate) occurred in 17.7% of RSV patients, and 9.9% experienced ischemia. The 30-day mortality rate for patients with RSV was 11.9%, and the 90-day mortality rate was 18.8%.
The 30-day mortality rate for patients with RSV was 11.9%, and the 90-day mortality rate was 18.8%.
Several factors were linked to worse outcomes in those hospitalized with RSV, including chronic pulmonary disease, lower respiratory tract infection, hypothermia (low body temperature), elevated pulse, and increased creatine levels, which might signal impaired kidney function.
Compared with flu, RSV was associated with a slightly higher risk of severe outcomes. RSV patients had a roughly 3% higher risk of adverse outcomes compared with flu patients and about a 2% higher risk of dying within 90 days.
Hospitalized RSV patients had poorer baseline health
In the study, older adults hospitalized with RSV initially tended to be in worse health than those with flu. “They were generally older, more frequently immunocompromised, had a history of prior hospitalizations, and exhibited higher Charlson comorbidity scores,” the authors write.
“These findings align with previous studies, which have similarly reported that older adults with RSV are more likely to be immunocompromised, have elevated comorbidity burdens, and experience higher rates of chronic respiratory and cardiovascular conditions than their counterparts hospitalized with influenza,” they added.
The results, say the authors, support the promotion of RSV vaccination for older adults, especially those with underlying cardiovascular or pulmonary conditions.