OBJECTIVES: Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) can cause serious complications, such as pneumonia. This study describes the evolution of RSV-related direct medical costs (DMCs) in adults ≥60 years of age (60Y+) between 2008 and 2017 in the United States (US).

METHODS: A retrospective analysis of US health insurance claims was conducted using data from the IBM MarketScan Commercial Claims and Encounters and Medicare Supplemental (CCMS) and Multi-State Medicaid (MSM) databases. DMCs for RSV events were defined as costs from claims with an RSV primary or secondary diagnosis. Total DMCs of RSV for the entire US 60Y+ population was estimated by aggregating these costs using RSV hospitalization incidence data from the literature, census data, and health insurance coverage data.

RESULTS: Even after accounting for inflation, RSV-associated hospitalization costs per day increased by 58% in the CCMS database between 2008 and 2017 and by 68% in the MSM database between 2009 and 2017. However, the cost increase per hospitalization episode remained stable or moderate (<+15%) due to a decrease in the average length of hospital stay. This resulted in a moderate annual cost increase in the US 60Y+ population from 1,495 to 1,796 million US dollars (USD) or from 3,291 to 3,955 million USD depending on RSV incidence estimates.

CONCLUSIONS: RSV-related DMCs in older adults have increased between 2008 and 2017. With increasing hospitalization costs in the US and a progressively ageing population, costs are likely going to continue to constitute a substantial burden in the future. Availability of a safe and efficacious vaccine will most likely help reduce this RSV infection burden.

ACKNOWLEDGMENT: The authors acknowledge Desmond Curran (GSK), Yassine El-Hahi (SOTIO; formerly Valesta, on behalf of GSK), and Jean-Etienne Poirrier (IQVIA, formerly GSK) for helpful discussions. The authors thank Business & Decision Life Sciences for writing, editing, and coordination support (Coordinator: [Gauhar Masgutova]).