Chronic conditions and risk of severe outcomes among adults aged 18-59 years with medically-attended RSV illness in the United States
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Background
Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) can cause severe respiratory disease. While risks among older adults are well established, less is known about RSV severity in younger adults with chronic conditions.
Methods
A retrospective cohort study using U.S. commercial and Medicaid claims data was conducted to evaluate outcomes in adults aged 18–59 with medically attended RSV (MA-RSV) in 2022-24. Chronic conditions were assessed during a 12-month baseline period prior to the MA-RSV. Severe outcomes, including RSV-associated hospitalization, RSV-associated intensive care unit admission, mechanical ventilation, and death, were assessed within 30 days following RSV diagnosis. Adjusted risk ratios (aRRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated using multivariable models.
Results
In both commercially insured (n=1435 in 2022-23; n=1890 in 2023-24) and Medicaid-insured (n=2065) adults with MA-RSV, approximately 75% had ≥1 chronic condition, and over 25% had four or more. Severe RSV outcomes occurred in ∼21% of individuals. The risk of severe outcomes substantially increased with the number of chronic conditions. Among commercially insured adults, the aRR for those with two to three chronic conditions compared to none was 10.06 (95% CI: 4.80–21.08) in the 2022–2023 and 13.74 (95% CI: 5.95–31.73) in 2023–2024. For those with four or more conditions, the aRRs were 21.39 (95% CI: 10.26–44.60) and 38.03 (95% CI: 16.61–87.11), respectively. In the Medicaid cohort (2023–2024), the aRR was 7.68 (95% CI: 4.63–12.76) for individuals with two to three conditions and 13.85 (95% CI: 8.36– 22.95) for those with four or more.
Conclusion
Adults aged 18–59 years with chronic conditions are at increased risk for severe RSV illness, supporting broader prevention strategies, including vaccination.
