BACKGROUND: Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a major cause of severe respiratory disease in older adults aged ≥ 65 years and adults with underlying conditions such as chronic heart or lung disease and those with immunocompromising conditions.
METHODS: A systematic literature review (SLR) of publications in the last 20 years was conducted on 18 May 2022 to understand the economic and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) burden of RSV infection in all adults, older-aged adults, and high-risk adults globally. The databases searched were PubMed, Embase, Cochrane, PsycINFO, and EconLit, with no language limits. Population size for extraction of healthcare resource use (HCRU) outcomes was limited to ≥ 100 patients; there were no size limits for other outcomes.
RESULTS: Sixty-five studies were included for RSV costs (n = 21), HCRU (n = 35), and HRQOL (n = 9). The SLR revealed major evidence gaps (Table), including limited data beyond the hospital setting; inconsistent age subgroups for cost; few HCRU outcomes stratified by age; lack of cost, HCRU, and HRQOL data by comorbidity; variation in types of cost outcomes reported; lack of information on indirect costs; lack of geographic diversity, with most cost and HCRU studies conducted in the United States; and lack of country-specific HRQOL data.
CONCLUSIONS: The evidence limitations and gaps identified highlight the need to better characterize the economic and humanistic burden of RSV in adults. Addressing these gaps is important to allow for effective implementation and evaluation of preventative strategies, including anticipated RSV vaccines for older adults.
