Carrico J, Hicks KA, Wilson E, Panozzo CA, Ghaswalla P. The annual economic burden of respiratory syncytial virus in adults in the United States. J Infect Dis. 2024 Aug 16;230(2):e342-52. doi: 10.1093/infdis/jiad559

BACKGROUND: Current estimates of the economic burden of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) are needed for policymakers to evaluate adult RSV vaccination strategies.

METHODS: A cost-of-illness model was developed to estimate the annual societal burden of RSV in US adults aged ≥60 years. Additional analyses were conducted in adults aged 50-59 years and in adults aged 18-49 years with potential RSV risk factors.

RESULTS: Among US adults aged ≥60 years, the model estimated 4.1 million annual RSV cases and an annual economic burden of $4.0 billion (direct medical costs, $2.9 billion; indirect costs due to morbidity, $1.1 billion). The 4% of RSV cases that were hospitalized contributed to 94% of direct medical costs. Additional analyses estimated$4.6 billion in indirect costs from RSV mortality; $422 million in annual hospitalization costs among adults aged 50-59 years; and among adults aged 18-49 years with RSV risk factors, annual per capita burden was highest among people with congestive heart failure at $51, 100 per 1000 people.

DISCUSSION: The economic burden of RSV is substantial among US adults aged ≥60 years and among adults aged 18-49 years with RSV risk factors and those aged 50-59 years, underscoring the need for preventive interventions for these populations.