Overview

• A Journal of the American Geriatrics Society study found that Ontario residents aged 65 and older hospitalized with RSV experienced longer stays, increased ICU transfers and higher 30-day mortality than patients with influenza, urinary tract infections or fractures.
• Those hospitalized with RSV showed elevated rates of new or worsening heart failure and atrial fibrillation for up to one year post-discharge regardless of prior cardiovascular history.
• Unlike influenza or COVID-19, RSV immunity wanes rapidly in older adults, leaving them vulnerable to reinfection and severe outcomes.
• Corresponding author Chris Verschoor emphasized that targeted RSV vaccination in seniors could mitigate both acute illness severity and long-term cardiac risks.
• Respiratory syncytial virus has been largely understudied in older populations despite its well-known impact in children and nearly universal early-life exposure.