Cost of hospitalization associated with respiratory syncytial virus infection versus influenza infection in hospitalized older adults

Abstract

Despite the severity of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) disease in older adults, data on its costs are limited. We compared hospitalization costs for 2090 adults aged ≥ 60 years hospitalized with RSV or influenza by assigning direct health care costs. Hospitalization with RSV was associated with longer hospitalization and increased frequency of diagnosis-related groups for pulmonary complications, resulting in costs at least as great as those for influenza ($16 034 vs $15 163; 95% confidence interval for the difference, −$811 to $2547). Awareness of RSV disease burden in adults is needed to facilitate vaccination and treatment when they become available.