Hospitalisation and healthcare burden of respiratory syncytial virus in adults over 50 years in France

Abstract Background and objective Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) can cause severe illness in adults, leading to respiratory and non-respiratory complications, functional decline, hospitalisation, and death. This study describes French patients aged ≥50 years hospitalised with RSV (2015–2022) and their care pathways, including hospitalisation and outpatient healthcare use and costs. Methods Data were extracted from the French National Health Data System (SNDS). Patients were classified into four risk groups (high: mmunocompromised; medium: underlying predisposition; other; no comorbidities) and four age groups (50–59, 60–64, 65–74, ≥75 years). Healthcare use within 30 days post-hospitalisation (laboratory tests, imaging, pharmacy, GP visits, rehospitalisations) and costs were analysed across four periods: 60–30 days pre-hospitalisation, 30 days pre-hospitalisation, index hospitalisation, and 30 days post-hospitalisation. Results We identified 15,509 RSV-related hospitalisations for 15,169 adults ≥50 years, mainly aged 65–74 (20.9%) or ≥75 years (61.7%). Median age was 80 years; 15.9% were high risk, 71.4% medium risk, 4.8% other, and 7.8% had no comorbidities. Intensive care was required in 25.4% of cases. In-hospital mortality was 8.5%, with an additional 3.8% dying within 30 days post-discharge. Rehospitalisation occurred in 17.8% of patients, nearly half for cardiorespiratory causes. Mean index hospitalisation cost was €6,876 (SD €9,346), and post-hospitalisation costs increased across all ages and risk profiles compared to the control period. Conclusion RSV imposes a substantial hospitalisation and cost burden in adults ≥50 years, especially older patients and those with comorbidities. Expanded preventive vaccination strategies could help reduce this impact.