The Clinical and Symptomatic Burden Among Older Adults with Respiratory Syncytial Virus: A Real-World Survey in Five European Countries

Although respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a common cause of respiratory illness in older adults (≥ 60 years), data on overall burden remain limited. This study investigated the clinical and symptomatic burden in older adults with RSV in Europe.

Data were drawn from the Adelphi RSV Disease Specific Programme (DSP)™, a cross-sectional survey of physicians and their patients with RSV, conducted across Europe between Q4 2023–Q2 2024. Physicians reported demographics, clinical characteristics, symptoms, disease progression, comorbidities, and impact on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and activities of daily living (ADL). Patients self-reported HRQoL via the Respiratory Infection Intensity and Impact Questionnaire (RiiQ™) and EQ-5D-5L. Patients were grouped as: A-RSV (Acute, symptom onset 0-< 4 weeks), O-RSV (Ongoing, symptom onset 4-< 12 weeks), P-RSV (Post-acute, symptom onset 12-≤ 52 weeks) and H-RSV (Post-hospital discharge, symptom onset ≤ 52 weeks).

Overall, 602 physicians reported data on 1581 patients (n = 237 A-RSV, n = 196 O-RSV, n = 588 P-RSV, n = 560 H-RSV). Of those with H-RSV, 34.1% were aged 75 + (A-RSV: 20.7%) and 58.7% had 3 + concomitant conditions (A-RSV: 29.2%) at diagnosis. RSV affected patients’ HRQoL and ADL, psychological well-being, relationships and ability to support/care for family members, with differences observed across groups, particularly in patients with H-RSV (all p < 0.01). Of the 417 (26.4%) patients who self-reported HRQoL, differences across RiiQ™ symptom scores were observed (all p < 0.05), indicating higher burden in the A-RSV and H-RSV groups. Differences in overall EQ-5D-5L scores and in the EQ-5D mobility, self-care and anxiety/depression domains were also significant (all p < 0.05).

RSV was associated with high burden. Patients experienced a high symptom burden, and patients with O-RSV, P-RSV and H-RSV experienced persistent symptoms over a long duration post-infection. Patients reported poor HRQoL across all outcome measures. Given this burden, focus on preventive measures such as RSV vaccination should be prioritized.