Intensive Care Unit Stay and Mechanical Ventilation Among Adults with Respiratory Syncytial Virus-Related Hospitalization by Age and Comorbidity Status

Sep 30, 2026

This retrospective cohort study evaluates intensive care unit (ICU) stay and mechanical ventilation (MV) use among adults hospitalized for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) by age and comorbidity risk status. Using the Optum Market Clarity Database, investigators identified 13,734 RSV-related hospitalizations and compared outcomes between high-risk patients (≥1 predefined condition) and low-risk adults. High-risk adults showed more ICU admissions and longer ICU stays, with MV used more frequently, and younger high-risk patients experiencing especially severe outcomes.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages15

Reading Time38 min

AccessFree to download

Abstract

Introduction

Methods

Results

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Keywords and Key Summary Points

Introduction

Infect Dis Ther (2026) 15:101–115 [https://doi.org/10.1007/s40121-025-01255-7](https://doi.org/10.1007/s40121-025-01255-7) ORIGINAL RESEARCH Intensive Care Unit Stay and Mechanical Ventilation Among Adults with Respiratory Syncytial Virus‑Related Hospitalization by Age and Comorbidity Status Caihua Liang · Yun Zhou · Matthew Kent · Erica L. Chilson · Bradford D. Gessner · Elizabeth Begier Received: June 30, 2025 / Accepted: October 20, 2025 / Published online: November 11, 2025 © Pfizer Inc., Genesis Research Group 2025 ABSTRACT Introduction: Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) can cause severe outcomes in hospitalized older adults and those with underlying comorbidities, but little is known regarding such outcomes stratified by age and comorbidity status. This study aimed to describe the intensive care unit (ICU) stay and receipt of mechanical ventilation (MV) among adults with RSV-related hospitalizations by age and risk group. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted using Optum Market Clarity Database to identify RSV-related hospitalizations among adults aged ≥ 18 years. ICU admission, length of ICU stays, and MV use were summarized by | Prior Presentation: This work was presented at 13th International RSV Symposium (RSV2025) (Brazil, March 12–15, 2025) . | | --- | | Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at [https://doi.org/10.1007/s40121-025-01255-7](https://doi.org/10.1007/s40121-025-01255-7) . | C. Liang (*) · E. L. Chilson · B. D. Gessner Pfizer Inc., 66 Hudson Blvd E, New York, NY 10001, USA [e-mail: Caihua.Liang@pfizer.com](e-mail: Caihua.Liang@pfizer.com) Y. Zhou · M. Kent Genesis Research Group, Hoboken, NJ, USA E. Begier Pfizer Healthcare Ireland, Dublin, Ireland age and risk group. Patients with at least one predefined underlying condition were defined as high-risk, while low-risk adults lacked any of these conditions. Results: A total of 13,734 RSV-related hospitalizations were identified, including 11,838 unique patients. Of these, 10.2% were low-risk and 89.8% were high-risk. ICU admissions occurred in 31.2% of RSV-related hospitalizations (highrisk, 32.1%; low-risk, 22.6%) . High-risk younger adults had higher percentage of ICU admissions (18–49 years, 31.1%; 50–59 years, 34.8%) than older adults at low-risk (60–74 years, 27.8%; ≥ 75 years, 21.6%) . Mean length of ICU stay was 4.5 days (high-risk, 4.6 days; low-risk, 2.8 days) . Younger adults at high-risk had longer ICU stays (18–49 years, 5.9 days; 50–59 years, 5.4 days) compared to older adults at low-risk (60–74 years, 4.2 days; ≥ 75 years, 1.8 days) . MV was used in 6.2% of RSV-related hospitalizations (high-risk, 6.6%; low-risk, 2.6%) . ICU stays for those receiving MV were more than twice as long as ICU stays overall (mean 10.6 days) . Conclusions: During RSV-related hospitalizations, adults at high-risk experienced more critical care outcomes compared to low-risk adults. Within risk status, results were similar with increasing age. However, younger adults at high-risk had more severe outcomes compared to older adults without such comorbidities, highlighting the importance of disease prevention in this group. Keywords: Comorbidity; ICU admission; Length of ICU stay; Mechanical ventilation; Older adults; RSV; Young adults Key Summary Points Why carry out this study? Although respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection can cause severe outcomes among hospitalized adults and those with underlying comorbidities, it remains underrecognized as a cause of severe respiratory disease in adults because of limited standard-of-care RSV testing. Understanding the frequency of intensive care unit (ICU) stays and mechanical ventilation (MV) by age and comorbidity status is crucial for characterizing the burden of severe disease to guide RSV vaccination policy for adults and highlight the importance of vaccination of high-risk groups (those who have at least one chr

FAQs

How were ICU stay and mechanical ventilation outcomes assessed in the study?

The study summarized ICU admission rates, length of ICU stays, and mechanical ventilation (MV) use among adults with RSV-related hospitalizations, stratified by age and comorbidity risk group.

What defines high-risk versus low-risk comorbidity status?

Patients with at least one predefined underlying condition were classified as high-risk, while low-risk adults lacked any of these conditions.

What were the main findings regarding ICU admissions and MV use?

ICU admissions occurred in 31.2% of RSV-related hospitalizations and MV was used in 6.2%. High-risk adults had higher rates and longer ICU stays than low-risk adults, and within risk status younger high-risk adults had more severe outcomes than older adults without such comorbidities.

Sep 30, 2026

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