OBJECTIVES: The aim of this initial analysis from an ongoing study is estimating direct costs of hospitalized patient and out-patient RSV cases in Valladolid (Spain) during two seasons (2022-23 and 2023-24).

METHODS: A prospective study was designed including hospitalized patients (H) and out-patients (O) with lab-confirmed infection of RSV. Patients medically and mentally stable were recruited in two hospitals in Valladolid and in three primary care (PC) settings during 2022-23 and 2023-24 RSV seasons. Direct healthcare costs were analyzed for both H and O based on; number of days of hospitalization and Intensive Care Unit (ICU) stay (only H), subsequent visits to PC and specialists, subsequent visits at emergency departments and hospital readmission due to RSV illness, and first visit to PC (only O). Descriptive analyses and calculation of the average costs per resource was performed, and the total cost of healthcare over both seasons was estimated.

RESULTS: A total of 131 H and 75 O were included. Of those H, 80.9% required visits to PC and 48.1% to specialists, 15.3% required re-hospitalization, 8.4% visited emergency units and 4.6% were admitted to the ICU. The mean length of stay was 9.0 (Standard Deviation [SD]:7.4), 6.0 (SD:5.0) and 9.4 (SD:8.3) days for hospitalization, ICU admission and rehospitalization, costing a mean €4,582.5 (SD:3,723.9), €7.763.8 (SD:6443.9) and €4,693.1 (SD:4,171.8) per stay, respectively. 70.7% outpatients required additional visits to PC, 12.0% required admission to hospital, 10.7% visited emergency units and 5.3% visited the specialist. The mean length of stay during their hospital admissions was 7.0 (SD:2.6) days, resulting in a mean of €3,513.5 (SD:1,327.9). So far, the total cost of RSV during this study is €773,517.8 for H and €31,149.5 for O.

CONCLUSIONS: RSV infections present a significant cost to the health system, with patients having multiple interactions with the healthcare system during the same episode of infection.