OBJECTIVES: To estimate the societal economic burden of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection in older adults in the United States.
METHODS: A cost-of-illness model was developed to estimate annual RSV cases and costs associated with RSV infection for the 2022 US population aged ≥60 years. RSV epidemiologic outcomes were calculated from estimates reported in the scientific literature. Direct medical costs (2021 US dollars) included costs associated with RSV cases in the hospital, emergency department, and outpatient settings. Indirect costs included productivity losses associated with RSV morbidity. Productivity losses associated with RSV mortality were included in scenario analysis. Probabilistic sensitivity analyses (PSA) were conducted to assess the variability in the estimated economic burden of disease due to uncertainty in model input values.
RESULTS: Among adults aged ≥60 years, the model estimated 4.1 million annual RSV cases and a total annual economic burden of $3.9 billion (direct medical costs, $2.8 billion; indirect costs, $1.1 billion). Of the total estimated cases, 27% required medical attendance. While only 4% of RSV cases were hospitalized, they contributed to 13,800 deaths and over 90% of direct medical costs. RSV morbidity was estimated to incur 8.0 million days of lost productivity. Scenario analysis showed that an additional $4.4 billion indirect costs were incurred from productivity losses associated with deaths from hospitalized RSV cases. Sensitivity analysis results demonstrated significant variability in annual RSV cases and economic burden due to seasonal variability in RSV incidence and uncertainty associated with costs of hospitalized RSV cases.
CONCLUSIONS: RSV-attributable direct medical costs and productivity losses are significant in adults aged ≥60 years, underscoring the need for preventive interventions to reduce this economic burden. Several RSV vaccines for older adults are currently in Phase 3 clinical trials, including an mRNA-based vaccine.
