Burden of RSV hospital disease and its comorbidities in adults in Spain (2016–2023)

Abstract

Abstract This observational descriptive study analyses the hospital burden of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) among adults in Spain using the Minimum Basic Data Set (MBDS) from the Spanish National Hospital Data Surveillance System. Hospital admissions of adults diagnosed with non-bronchiolitis RSV infection between 2016 and 2023 were identified using ICD-10-CM codes. A total of 288,297 RSV-related hospitalizations were recorded, with a mean patient age of 76.18 years. The overall hospitalization rate was 92.43 per 100,000 inhabitants, and the mortality rate was 5.32 per 100,000. The most common severe comorbidities at admission were congestive heart failure, diabetes, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Patients aged over 65 years had a significantly higher risk of in-hospital mortality (OR 1.78; 95% CI: 1.64–1.93) compared to those aged 40–64 years, increasing to 2.22 (95% CI: 2.05–2.40) in the presence of at least one severe comorbidity. Male sex was also associated with increased mortality risk (OR 1.24; 95% CI: 1.20–1.28). In conclusion, RSV represents a substantial cause of hospitalization and mortality among adults in Spain, particularly in patients over 60 years, males, and those with underlying comorbidities.