Older adults in Spain face rising RSV hospitalization rates

A study in Spain shows that older adults have higher hospitalization rates from respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) as they age, especially those with chronic health conditions or living in nursing homes. The average hospitalization rate for adults over 60 was 84.7 per 100,000. Rates increased significantly with age, reaching over 200 per 100,000 for those aged 85-94. Chronic conditions like blood cancer and COPD also raised hospitalization risks. The study suggests that targeted public health measures, including vaccination for high-risk groups, could reduce RSV hospitalizations. This could focus on older adults with specific health issues, potentially addressing half of RSV cases in this age group.