Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV):

A Disease of All Ages

RSV can be serious for older adults and adults with certain underlying medical conditions, such as chronic cardiovascular or respiratory disease, complicated diabetes mellitus, chronic liver disease, and moderate or severe immune compromise, among others.1,2

RSV is a common virus that infects the lungs and breathing passages.3 Immunity after natural RSV infection wanes, and reinfection occurs throughout life.4,5 RSV is associated with substantial clinical and economic burden in vulnerable adults.1,5,6

Estimated annual burden of RSV infection among adults aged ≥65 years in the US7:

~2.2 million

symptomatic RSV infections7

~177,000

hospitalizations7

14,000

estimated deaths7

Certain chronic medical conditions increase risk* of RSV-related hospitalization4

Asthma
2.3-2.5x more likely†
CAD
3.7-6.5x more likely
Diabetes
2.4-6.4x more likely
COPD
3.5-13.4x more likely
CHF
5.8-7.6x more likely

*Incidence rate ratio among people with each comorbidity vs those without it, in the surveillance area population in adults aged ≥65 years (or 60–79 years for CHF).
†The incidence rate ratio was not significant.

Learn more about RSV in adults below​

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Abbreviations

CAD, coronary artery disease; CHF, congestive heart failure; COPD, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; RSV, respiratory syncytial virus​

References

  1. CDC. RSV in Older Adults. Accessed January 24, 2025 https://www.cdc.gov/rsv/older-adults/index.html Open link icon​
  2. CDC. Clinical Overview of RSV. Accessed January 24, 2025 ​https://www.cdc.gov/rsv/hcp/clinical-overview/index.html Open link icon
  3. CDC. About RSV in Adults. Accessed January 24, 2025 ​https://www.cdc.gov/rsv/about/index.html Open link icon
  4. Branche AR, et al. Clin Infect Dis. 2022;74:1004–1011.​
  5. Anderson LJ, et al. Vaccine. 2013;31S:B209–B215.
  6. Graham BS, Immunol Rev. 2011;239:149–166.
  7. Falsey AR, et al. N Engl J Med. 2005;352:1749–1759.