CHRONIC LUNG OR RESPIRATORY CONDITIONS CAN INCREASE THE RISK FOR SEVERE RSV IN ADULTS1

Consider the risk for patients with chronic pulmonary conditions2

 

The CDC identifies chronic lung or respiratory disease as a major risk factor for severe RSV in adults aged 50 to 74 years and recommends vaccination.2*

  • *

    Chronic lung and respiratory disease includes: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, emphysema, asthma, interstitial lung disease, or cystic fibrosis.2

Recognize the impact of RSV for older adults with certain chronic pulmonary conditions

In the United States, approximately 14.3 million adults aged 65 years and older are estimated to have COPD or asthma, putting them at increased risk for severe RSV
  • †

    Estimates derived from IQVIA, sourced from LRx and Dx claims data (May 2023-February 2025), capturing ICD-10 codes and prescriptions claims, segmented by age and state, were used to approximate the percentage of select comorbidities. These findings were extrapolated using 2023 US Census Bureau demographic data (based on 2023 ACS 1-year estimates) to project approximate ranges of the numbers of patients across select comorbidities, age groups, and states. Over- or underestimation may result due to variation between IQVIA data coverage and US Census estimates.4

  • ‡

    Physician’s office address or, if missing, the preferred mailing address was used to determine whether an active physician is in the United States.6

Older female patient lying in a hospital bed with oxygen tubes in her nostrils and an IV in her hand

In a retrospective study of adults 60 years of age and older, patients hospitalized with an RSV infection experienced pulmonary complications including7§||:

  • Pneumonia (47.4%)
  • Tachypnea (77.5%)
  • Low Oxygen Saturation# (74.9%)
  • Oxygen Supplementation** (23.5%)
  • Respiratory Exacerbation†† (16.9%)
  • §

    An observational, retrospective, cohort study conducted at an integrated health system evaluated adults aged ≥60 years hospitalized with RSV infection (n=645) or influenza infection (n=1878) over 5 consecutive seasons between January 2011 and June 2015 to compare demographics, prehospitalization characteristics, hospital utilization, and clinical outcomes.7

  • ||

    In the RSV cohort, the prevalence of certain comorbidities in 1 year prior to admission include congestive heart failure (35.3%), COPD, chronic bronchitis, or emphysema (29.8%), and asthma (26%).7

  • Defined as highest measured respiratory rate >22 breaths per minute.7

  • #

    Lowest O2  <93%.7

  • **

    >5 liters of oxygen per minute.7

  • ††

    Defined as COPD, chronic bronchitis, or emphysema.7

RSV can also pose risks for adults with cardiovascular conditions2

SEE CARDIOVASCULAR RISKS >
  • AAMC=Association of American Medical Colleges; ACS=American Community Survey; CDC=Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; COPD=chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; Dx=diagnosis; ICD-10=International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision; LRx=longitudinal prescription; RSV=respiratory syncytial virus.

References

  1. Respiratory syncytial virus infection (RSV). Clinical overview of RSV. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Accessed March 2, 2026. https://www.cdc.gov/rsv/hcp/clinical-overview

  2. Respiratory syncytial virus infection (RSV). RSV vaccine guidance for adults. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Accessed March 2, 2026. https://www.cdc.gov/rsv/hcp/vaccine-clinical-guidance/adults.html

  3. Respiratory syncytial virus infection (RSV). RSV in adults. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Accessed March 3, 2026. https://www.cdc.gov/rsv/adults/

  4. Data on File, GSK.

  5. Association of American Medical Colleges. US Physician Workforce Data Dashboard. Accessed April 14, 2026. https://www.aamc.org/data-reports/report/us-physician-workforce-data-dashboard

  6. Association of American Medical Colleges. US Physician Workforce Data Dashboard Methods. Accessed March 6, 2026. https://www.aamc.org/data-reports/data/us-physician-workforce-data-dashboard-methods

  7. Ackerson B, Tseng HF, Sy LS, et al. Severe morbidity and mortality associated with respiratory syncytial virus versus influenza infection in hospitalized older adults. Clin Infect Dis. 2019;69(2):197-203. doi:10.1093/cid/ciy991