Demographics and clinical burden of disease among RSV-hospitalized older adults in Italy: A retrospective cohort study

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a leading cause of acute respiratory infection and can lead to severe disease in older adults or those with comorbidities. This analysis aims to evaluate the demographic and clinical burden of RSV hospitalizations among older adults in Italy and inform potential...

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Main Authors: Anna Puggina, Melania Dovizio, Alexander Domnich, Alen Marijam, Chiara Veronesi, Caterina Rizzo, Marta Vicentini, Luca Degli Esposti, Giovanna Elisa Calabrò, Maria João Fonseca
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2025-12-01
Series:Human Vaccines & Immunotherapeutics
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Online Access:https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/21645515.2025.2479334
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author Anna Puggina
Melania Dovizio
Alexander Domnich
Alen Marijam
Chiara Veronesi
Caterina Rizzo
Marta Vicentini
Luca Degli Esposti
Giovanna Elisa Calabrò
Maria João Fonseca
author_facet Anna Puggina
Melania Dovizio
Alexander Domnich
Alen Marijam
Chiara Veronesi
Caterina Rizzo
Marta Vicentini
Luca Degli Esposti
Giovanna Elisa Calabrò
Maria João Fonseca
author_sort Anna Puggina
collection DOAJ
description Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a leading cause of acute respiratory infection and can lead to severe disease in older adults or those with comorbidities. This analysis aims to evaluate the demographic and clinical burden of RSV hospitalizations among older adults in Italy and inform potential preventative strategies. Adults aged ≥50 years with ≥1 hospitalization discharge diagnosis for RSV from 2010 to 2021 were included. Demographic characteristics before the first RSV hospitalization and clinical outcomes during this hospitalization and the 12 months following are described. Of the 243 patients, mean (SD) age was 73.7 (13.1) years, 40.7% were male, and the most common comorbidities were chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (37.9%), diabetes (21.8%), and heart failure (15.2%). Mean length of index hospitalization was 17.0 days, during which 9.1% of patients died. At index or during the 12-month follow-up, 5.8% had an intensive care unit admission, 61.3% were prescribed antibiotics, 8.2% had a stroke, and 3.3% had an acute myocardial infarction. During the 12-month follow-up, approximately, half of patients experienced worsening of preexisting comorbidities, with notable rates of re-hospitalization and mortality (44.4% and 29.6%). This study shows a high clinical burden of RSV among older adults in Italy, emphasizing a need for improved RSV surveillance, and may guide policymakers and healthcare providers in making informed recommendations for, and implementation of, RSV vaccination in Italy.
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spelling doaj-art-4cdd3d5f7b2141b9871d98faa64de4f32025-08-20T02:41:30ZengTaylor & Francis GroupHuman Vaccines & Immunotherapeutics2164-55152164-554X2025-12-0121110.1080/21645515.2025.2479334Demographics and clinical burden of disease among RSV-hospitalized older adults in Italy: A retrospective cohort studyAnna Puggina0Melania Dovizio1Alexander Domnich2Alen Marijam3Chiara Veronesi4Caterina Rizzo5Marta Vicentini6Luca Degli Esposti7Giovanna Elisa Calabrò8Maria João Fonseca9GSK, Verona, ItalyCliCon S.r.l. Società Benefit, Health, Economics & Outcomes Research, Bologna, ItalyHygiene Unit, San Martino Policlinico Hospital-IRCCS for Oncology and Neurosciences, Genoa, ItalyGSK, Wavre, BelgiumCliCon S.r.l. Società Benefit, Health, Economics & Outcomes Research, Bologna, ItalyDepartment of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, Pisa, ItalyGSK, Verona, ItalyCliCon S.r.l. Società Benefit, Health, Economics & Outcomes Research, Bologna, ItalyVIHTALI (Value in Health Technology and Academy for Leadership & Innovation), Spin-Off of Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, ItalyGSK, Lisbon, PortugalRespiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a leading cause of acute respiratory infection and can lead to severe disease in older adults or those with comorbidities. This analysis aims to evaluate the demographic and clinical burden of RSV hospitalizations among older adults in Italy and inform potential preventative strategies. Adults aged ≥50 years with ≥1 hospitalization discharge diagnosis for RSV from 2010 to 2021 were included. Demographic characteristics before the first RSV hospitalization and clinical outcomes during this hospitalization and the 12 months following are described. Of the 243 patients, mean (SD) age was 73.7 (13.1) years, 40.7% were male, and the most common comorbidities were chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (37.9%), diabetes (21.8%), and heart failure (15.2%). Mean length of index hospitalization was 17.0 days, during which 9.1% of patients died. At index or during the 12-month follow-up, 5.8% had an intensive care unit admission, 61.3% were prescribed antibiotics, 8.2% had a stroke, and 3.3% had an acute myocardial infarction. During the 12-month follow-up, approximately, half of patients experienced worsening of preexisting comorbidities, with notable rates of re-hospitalization and mortality (44.4% and 29.6%). This study shows a high clinical burden of RSV among older adults in Italy, emphasizing a need for improved RSV surveillance, and may guide policymakers and healthcare providers in making informed recommendations for, and implementation of, RSV vaccination in Italy.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/21645515.2025.2479334Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)older adultshigh riskburden of diseasehospitalizations
spellingShingle Anna Puggina
Melania Dovizio
Alexander Domnich
Alen Marijam
Chiara Veronesi
Caterina Rizzo
Marta Vicentini
Luca Degli Esposti
Giovanna Elisa Calabrò
Maria João Fonseca
Demographics and clinical burden of disease among RSV-hospitalized older adults in Italy: A retrospective cohort study
Human Vaccines & Immunotherapeutics
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)
older adults
high risk
burden of disease
hospitalizations
title Demographics and clinical burden of disease among RSV-hospitalized older adults in Italy: A retrospective cohort study
title_full Demographics and clinical burden of disease among RSV-hospitalized older adults in Italy: A retrospective cohort study
title_fullStr Demographics and clinical burden of disease among RSV-hospitalized older adults in Italy: A retrospective cohort study
title_full_unstemmed Demographics and clinical burden of disease among RSV-hospitalized older adults in Italy: A retrospective cohort study
title_short Demographics and clinical burden of disease among RSV-hospitalized older adults in Italy: A retrospective cohort study
title_sort demographics and clinical burden of disease among rsv hospitalized older adults in italy a retrospective cohort study
topic Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)
older adults
high risk
burden of disease
hospitalizations
url https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/21645515.2025.2479334
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