Respiratory Syncytial Virus-Associated Hospitalization in Adults With Comorbidities in 2 European Countries: A Modeling Study

Background Individuals with comorbidities are at increased risk of severe respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection. We estimated RSV-associated respiratory hospitalization among adults aged >= 45 years with comorbidities in Denmark and Scotland.Methods By analyzing national hospital and virologic data, we estimated annual RSV-associated hospitalizations by 7 selected comorbidities and ages between 2010 and 2018. We estimated rate ratios of RSV-associated hospitalization for adults with comorbidity than the overall population.Results In Denmark, annual RSV-associated hospitalization rates per 1000 adults ranged from 3.1 for asthma to 19.4 for chronic kidney disease (CKD). In Scotland, rates ranged from 2.4 for chronic liver disease to 9.0 for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). In both countries, we found a 2- to 4-fold increased risk of RSV hospitalization for adults with COPD, ischemic heart disease, stroke, and diabetes; a 1.5- to 3-fold increased risk for asthma; and a 3- to 7-fold increased risk for CKD. RSV hospitalization rates among adults aged 45 to 64 years with COPD, asthma, ischemic heart disease, or CKD were higher than the overall population.Conclusions This study provides important evidence for identifying risk groups and assisting health authorities in RSV vaccination policy making. Adults with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma, ischemic heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and chronic kidney disease were at higher risk of respiratory syncytial virus hospitalization than the overall population aged >= 45 years in 2 European countries.