Who Is at Higher Risk? 3

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Older Adults
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Older adults with underlying conditions:
  • Chronic heart disease
  • Chronic lung disease (COPD)
  • End-stage renal disease or on dialysis
  • Complicated diabetes
  • Chronic liver disease (cirrhosis)
  • Chronic hematologic diseases (sickle cell disease, thalassemia)
  • Severe obesity
  • Moderate to severe immunocompromise

Disease Burden 1,4,5

Older adults
160,000 hospitalizations
related to RSV occur annually
(Data recorded in adults aged 65 and older in the United States) 4.
10,000 deaths
due to RSV occur annually
(Data recorded in adults aged 65 and older in the United States) 4.

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Older adults 
Approximately 10%
of older adults hospitalized with RSV require care in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) 1.
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Older adults
Hospitalization rate is 4.2 times higher
in patients aged 65 and older with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) compared to those without COPD 5
Hospitalization rate is 1.9 to 2.5 times higher
in patients aged 65 and older with coronary artery disease compared to those without the condition 5

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Economic Burden 6

Older adults
$8,049 to $8,983
is the average direct medical cost (including ICU, nursing, pharmaceuticals, therapy, emergency department, laboratory tests, etc.) per RSV-related hospitalization in older adults aged 50 to 65+ in the United States (2017–2019) 6
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Transmission of RSV 2,7

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Through droplets from coughs and sneezes2
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Through close contact such as kissing, hugging, or handshakes 2
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By touching contaminated surfaces: doorknobs, toys

Signal And Severe Symptoms
That May Occur When Ifected with RSV 8

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High fever
Persistent cough
Prolonged wheezing
Difficulty breathing
Bluish skin or discoloration around the mouth and eyes
Bluish skin or discoloration around the mouth and eyes
Important Note: RSV is too serious to delay medical care. If you experience any of the symptoms listed above, seek medical attention immediately8

Prevention 3,9

Avoid touching
your face
Avoid close contact with people who have a cold or show cold-like symptoms
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Regularly clean and disinfect surfaces
Cover your nose and mouth when sneezing or coughing
Prevent infection with vaccination*
Wash your hands frequently and properly
CONSULT A HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONAL FOR SUITABLE PREVENTION METHODS
*CDC. Clinical Guidance for RSV Immunizations and Vaccines in https://www.cdc.gov/rsv/hcp/vaccine-clinical-guidance/index.html

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Frequently Asked Questions -
RSV in Older Adults

01
Can older adults get RSV?
Yes. Adults aged 50 and older with underlying health conditions are at high risk of severe RSV, which can lead to hospitalization or even death 3.
02
What are the symptoms of RSV in adults?
RSV symptoms resemble those of a common cold: cough, fever, sore throat, and runny nose. In older adults, it can progress to pneumonia, difficulty breathing, or worsen existing heart/lung conditions 11.
03
Who is at high risk of severe RSV?
Adults aged ≥75, and those ≥50 with underlying conditions such as COPD, heart failure, obesity, kidney disease, or immunocompromised status 3.
04
How can older adults prevent RSV?
Frequent handwashing, avoiding close contact with sick individuals, covering mouth when coughing/sneezing, regular surface cleaning, staying home when ill, and vaccination are effective ways to reduce RSV transmission 3,9. Please consult a healthcare professional for personalized prevention advice. 3,9.
05
Is RSV as dangerous as the flu?
It can be. Some studies show that the disease burden of RSV in older adults is comparable to or even greater than that of influenza, including risks of pneumonia, hospitalization, ICU admission, and longer hospital stays 10.

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REFERENCE
  1. 1. Public Health Agency of Canada. (2025). Burden of disease of respiratory syncytial virus in older adults and adults considered at high risk of severe infection. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.14745/ccdr.v51i01a04
  2. 2. Yale Medicine. (2023). RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus) – Fact Sheets. Retrieved on August 18, 2025, from https://www.yalemedicine.org/conditions/rsv-respiratory-syncytial-virus
  3. 3. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2025). Clinical Overview of RSV. Retrieved on August 18, 2025, from https://www.cdc.gov/rsv/hcp/clinical-overview/index.html
  4. 4. World Health Organization. (2025). Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) – Fact Sheet. Retrieved on June 9, 2025, from https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/respiratory-syncytial-virus-(rsv)
  5. 5. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024). Chronic Conditions as Risk Factors for RSV-Associated Hospitalization. Retrieved on August 19, 2025, from https://www.cdc.gov
  6. 6. Bonavitacola, J. (2023). RSV Infection Imparts Substantial Economic Burden in All Age Groups. Retrieved from https://www.ajmc.com/view/rsv-infection-imparts-substantial-economic-burden-in-all-age-groups
  1. 7. Heikkinen, T., Valkonen, H., Waris, M., & Ruuskanen, O. (2015). Transmission of respiratory syncytial virus infection within families. Retrieved from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25884006/
  2. 8. Immunisation Foundation of Australia. (2025). RSV in Older Adults – Unite Against RSV. Retrieved on August 19, 2025, from https://www.ifa.org.au/uniteagainstrsv/aboutrsv/rsvinolderadults
  3. 9. Medical News Today. (2023). Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV): Causes, symptoms, and treatment. Retrieved on June 10, 2025, from https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/301632
  4. 10. Caryn Giselle Recto, Slim Fourati, Mehdi Khellaf, Jean-Michel Pawlotsky, Nicolas De Prost, Hadrien Diakonoff, Cristiano Donadio, Lydia Pouga, Christian de Tymowski, Christian Kassasseya. Respiratory Syncytial Virus vs Influenza Virus Infection: Mortality and Morbidity Comparison Over 7 Epidemic Seasons in an Elderly Population, The Journal of Infectious Diseases, Volume 230, Issue 5, 15 November 2024, Pages 1130–1138. https://doi.org/10.1093/infdis/jiae171
  5. 11. Cleveland Clinic. RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus). Retrieved on 29/08/2025, from https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/rsv-respiratory-syncytial-virus