A Portuguese study has called for subsidised vaccination against Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) for people over 60 after finding high rates of complications and mortality among hospitalised patients, SAPO reports.

The research, conducted by internist Gonçalo Sarmento at the Entre Douro e Vouga Local Health Unit (ULS EDV), analysed 15,000 patients hospitalised with acute respiratory infections between 2018 and 2024.

RSV was identified in 345 patients, more than 90 percent of whom were over 60. Almost 80 percent belonged to high-risk groups due to chronic diseases.

More than half developed respiratory failure, and 18.3 percent died during hospitalisation, meaning that “almost one in five adults hospitalised with the virus did not survive.”

Calls for subsidised vaccination

RSV vaccination is already provided free to babies under the National Vaccination Plan. Sarmento argues that the SNS should also subsidise vaccination for older adults. The vaccine currently costs around 200 euros.

“Not every elderly person has the money for that,” said Sarmento. “But if the National Health Service starts to subsidise the vaccine, it will be a crucial step towards ensuring greater longevity for our senior population, who, when infected by this virus, are subject to acute respiratory failure, lung damage that can leave lasting effects, and inflammation that increases the likelihood of chronic disease becoming decompensated or even leading to heart attacks or strokes.”

RSV compared with influenza

Sarmento said, “There is still a tendency for Respiratory Syncytial Virus to be misdiagnosed,” but warned that “the study demonstrated that patients hospitalised with RSV registered a higher frequency of serious complications than patients hospitalised with the flu.”

Respiratory failure affected 60.3 percent of RSV patients compared with 35.1 percent of influenza patients, while bacterial infections affected 54.8 percent compared with 34.2 percent. Rates of strokes and acute kidney disease were also higher among RSV patients.

“In-hospital mortality was also higher among patients with RSV, reaching the aforementioned 18.3%, while in cases of influenza it remained at 15.8%”.

Sarmento described the findings as “the first portrait of the clinical impact of RSV in the region” and RSV as “a very relevant threat to the most vulnerable adults and an often-underestimated infection that causes serious complications, high mortality, and significant pressure on health services.”

“Given the accelerated ageing of the Portuguese population, we can anticipate that the prevalence of Respiratory Syncytial Virus will increase in the coming years. Therefore, it is crucial to recognise the risk associated with this disease and, because there is no specific treatment for it, to adopt preventive strategies aimed at the most vulnerable groups, such as subsidised vaccination for those over 60 years of age,” concluded Sarmento.

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