The impact of nirsevimab prophylaxis on RSV hospitalizations: a real-world cost-benefit analysis in Tuscany, Italy

BackgroundRespiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) is the leading cause of hospitalizations in infants. The approval of nirsevimab, a long-acting monoclonal antibody, has extended the potential for RSV prophylaxis to all infants. This study assesses the cost–benefit of various Nirsevimab prophylaxis strate...

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Main Authors: Vieri Lastrucci, Martina Pacifici, Giorgia Alderotti, Monia Puglia, Elettra Berti, Federica Barbati, Lorenzo Lodi, Silvia Boscia, Francesco Nieddu, Giuseppe Indolfi, Diego Peroni, Marco Martini, Chiara Azzari, Fabio Voller, Maria Moriondo, Silvia Ricci
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-07-01
Series:Frontiers in Public Health
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1604331/full
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author Vieri Lastrucci
Martina Pacifici
Giorgia Alderotti
Monia Puglia
Elettra Berti
Federica Barbati
Lorenzo Lodi
Lorenzo Lodi
Silvia Boscia
Francesco Nieddu
Giuseppe Indolfi
Giuseppe Indolfi
Diego Peroni
Marco Martini
Chiara Azzari
Chiara Azzari
Fabio Voller
Maria Moriondo
Silvia Ricci
Silvia Ricci
author_facet Vieri Lastrucci
Martina Pacifici
Giorgia Alderotti
Monia Puglia
Elettra Berti
Federica Barbati
Lorenzo Lodi
Lorenzo Lodi
Silvia Boscia
Francesco Nieddu
Giuseppe Indolfi
Giuseppe Indolfi
Diego Peroni
Marco Martini
Chiara Azzari
Chiara Azzari
Fabio Voller
Maria Moriondo
Silvia Ricci
Silvia Ricci
author_sort Vieri Lastrucci
collection DOAJ
description BackgroundRespiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) is the leading cause of hospitalizations in infants. The approval of nirsevimab, a long-acting monoclonal antibody, has extended the potential for RSV prophylaxis to all infants. This study assesses the cost–benefit of various Nirsevimab prophylaxis strategies for infants during their first RSV season in preventing RSV-associated hospitalization in the Tuscany region, Italy.MethodsThe analysis was conducted from the perspective of the healthcare payor. Real-world data from the Tuscany birth cohort (N = 21,017) experiencing their first RSV season in the 2023/2024 season were used to calculate the net benefit and benefit cost ratio (BCR) of three possible nirsevimab prophylaxis strategies compared with prophylaxis practices at the time of the study, which includes the use of palivizumab in eligible infants. RSV-associated hospitalizations and severe hospitalizations were considered as health outcomes. Sensitivity analyses were performed to identify influential variables.ResultsUnder prophylaxis practices at the time of the study, there were a total of 663 hospitalizations associated with RSV, including 102 severe cases, representing €5,247,645 in costs. An extended prophylaxis strategy with nirsevimab, including all infants born both before and during the RSV season, resulted in the highest number of hospitalizations avoided (378), with a BCR close to break-even (0.96). A seasonal-only strategy targeting infants born during the season prevented the fewest hospitalizations (252), showing a positive BCR of 1.15. Finally, a seasonal strategy with targeted catch-up, including also preterm infants born before the season, yielded the highest cost–benefit ratio (1.56), preventing 270 hospitalizations.ConclusionUniversal prophylaxis strategies with nirsevimab, targeting all infants during their first RSV epidemic season, substantially reduce hospitalization burdens without increasing economic pressure on the healthcare system. Although alternative strategies are more cost-effective, they prevent fewer hospitalizations, emphasizing the public health value of broader prophylaxis approaches.
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spelling doaj-art-a9acbf5ab2b84569804a35d2a20a02f62025-08-20T02:38:46ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Public Health2296-25652025-07-011310.3389/fpubh.2025.16043311604331The impact of nirsevimab prophylaxis on RSV hospitalizations: a real-world cost-benefit analysis in Tuscany, ItalyVieri Lastrucci0Martina Pacifici1Giorgia Alderotti2Monia Puglia3Elettra Berti4Federica Barbati5Lorenzo Lodi6Lorenzo Lodi7Silvia Boscia8Francesco Nieddu9Giuseppe Indolfi10Giuseppe Indolfi11Diego Peroni12Marco Martini13Chiara Azzari14Chiara Azzari15Fabio Voller16Maria Moriondo17Silvia Ricci18Silvia Ricci19Epidemiology Unit, Meyer Children’s Hospital IRCCS, Florence, ItalyEpidemiologic Observatory, Regional Healthcare Agency of Tuscany, Florence, ItalyEpidemiology Unit, Meyer Children’s Hospital IRCCS, Florence, ItalyEpidemiologic Observatory, Regional Healthcare Agency of Tuscany, Florence, ItalyNeonatal Intensive Care Unit, Meyer Children’s Hospital IRCCS, Florence, ItalyPediatrics and Neonatology Unit, Santo Stefano Hospital, USL Toscana Centro, Prato, ItalyDepartment of Neurofarba, University of Florence, Florence, ItalyImmunology Unit, Meyer Children’s Hospital IRCCS, Florence, ItalyImmunology Unit, Meyer Children’s Hospital IRCCS, Florence, ItalyImmunology Unit, Meyer Children’s Hospital IRCCS, Florence, ItalyDepartment of Neurofarba, University of Florence, Florence, ItalyPediatric and Liver Unit, Meyer Children’s Hospital IRCCS, Florence, ItalyPediatric Clinic, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, ItalyPediatric Unit, San Donato Hospital, Arezzo, ItalyImmunology Unit, Meyer Children’s Hospital IRCCS, Florence, Italy0Department of Health Sciences, University of Florence, Florence, ItalyEpidemiologic Observatory, Regional Healthcare Agency of Tuscany, Florence, ItalyImmunology Unit, Meyer Children’s Hospital IRCCS, Florence, ItalyImmunology Unit, Meyer Children’s Hospital IRCCS, Florence, Italy0Department of Health Sciences, University of Florence, Florence, ItalyBackgroundRespiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) is the leading cause of hospitalizations in infants. The approval of nirsevimab, a long-acting monoclonal antibody, has extended the potential for RSV prophylaxis to all infants. This study assesses the cost–benefit of various Nirsevimab prophylaxis strategies for infants during their first RSV season in preventing RSV-associated hospitalization in the Tuscany region, Italy.MethodsThe analysis was conducted from the perspective of the healthcare payor. Real-world data from the Tuscany birth cohort (N = 21,017) experiencing their first RSV season in the 2023/2024 season were used to calculate the net benefit and benefit cost ratio (BCR) of three possible nirsevimab prophylaxis strategies compared with prophylaxis practices at the time of the study, which includes the use of palivizumab in eligible infants. RSV-associated hospitalizations and severe hospitalizations were considered as health outcomes. Sensitivity analyses were performed to identify influential variables.ResultsUnder prophylaxis practices at the time of the study, there were a total of 663 hospitalizations associated with RSV, including 102 severe cases, representing €5,247,645 in costs. An extended prophylaxis strategy with nirsevimab, including all infants born both before and during the RSV season, resulted in the highest number of hospitalizations avoided (378), with a BCR close to break-even (0.96). A seasonal-only strategy targeting infants born during the season prevented the fewest hospitalizations (252), showing a positive BCR of 1.15. Finally, a seasonal strategy with targeted catch-up, including also preterm infants born before the season, yielded the highest cost–benefit ratio (1.56), preventing 270 hospitalizations.ConclusionUniversal prophylaxis strategies with nirsevimab, targeting all infants during their first RSV epidemic season, substantially reduce hospitalization burdens without increasing economic pressure on the healthcare system. Although alternative strategies are more cost-effective, they prevent fewer hospitalizations, emphasizing the public health value of broader prophylaxis approaches.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1604331/fullrespiratory syncytial virus (RSV)immunizationpreventionnirsevimabhospitalizationscost–benefit analysis
spellingShingle Vieri Lastrucci
Martina Pacifici
Giorgia Alderotti
Monia Puglia
Elettra Berti
Federica Barbati
Lorenzo Lodi
Lorenzo Lodi
Silvia Boscia
Francesco Nieddu
Giuseppe Indolfi
Giuseppe Indolfi
Diego Peroni
Marco Martini
Chiara Azzari
Chiara Azzari
Fabio Voller
Maria Moriondo
Silvia Ricci
Silvia Ricci
The impact of nirsevimab prophylaxis on RSV hospitalizations: a real-world cost-benefit analysis in Tuscany, Italy
Frontiers in Public Health
respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)
immunization
prevention
nirsevimab
hospitalizations
cost–benefit analysis
title The impact of nirsevimab prophylaxis on RSV hospitalizations: a real-world cost-benefit analysis in Tuscany, Italy
title_full The impact of nirsevimab prophylaxis on RSV hospitalizations: a real-world cost-benefit analysis in Tuscany, Italy
title_fullStr The impact of nirsevimab prophylaxis on RSV hospitalizations: a real-world cost-benefit analysis in Tuscany, Italy
title_full_unstemmed The impact of nirsevimab prophylaxis on RSV hospitalizations: a real-world cost-benefit analysis in Tuscany, Italy
title_short The impact of nirsevimab prophylaxis on RSV hospitalizations: a real-world cost-benefit analysis in Tuscany, Italy
title_sort impact of nirsevimab prophylaxis on rsv hospitalizations a real world cost benefit analysis in tuscany italy
topic respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)
immunization
prevention
nirsevimab
hospitalizations
cost–benefit analysis
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1604331/full
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