This study describes and quantifies the burden of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in the United Kingdom (UK) in adults to the patients, the health and care systems and the economy. Each year in the UK there are approximately 3.6 million cases of RSV in adults. The total economic cost is estimated to be around £319m annually (in 2023 price terms), equivalent to a mean cost per adult with RSV of £87.51 per case.

The burden of respiratory syncytial virus in adults in the UK

Kevin Herbert, Mark Cabling, Stephen Morris, Fifi Olumogba, Stephanie Stockwell, Anna Louise Todsen, Jon Sussex

ResearchPublished Aug 14, 2024

Cover: The burden of respiratory syncytial virus in adults in the UK
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This study describes and quantifies the burden of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in the United Kingdom (UK) in adults (18+) to patients, the health and care system and the economy. RSV is a virus that causes acute lower respiratory tract infections such as pneumonia and bronchiolitis, not only in children but also in adults, mainly during winter months.

We have taken a broad, societal perspective that includes the health impact on people with RSV (reduced quality of life in all cases and death in some cases), the costs to the NHS of caring for them, and the costs to the economy of time taken off work due to illness.

The evidence presented here is from a literature review, consultations with key stakeholders, and our modelling based on published data. The literature review and consultations informed our economic model, which comprised direct costs (NHS resource use) and indirect costs (productivity losses to the UK economy).

Our study aimed to:

  • Bring together insights from the academic literature, stakeholder consultations and economic modelling to help understand the burden of RSV in the UK on adults, particularly those who are aged 65 and over and those in any other high-risk groups identified.
  • Consider diverse areas of burden, including the patients, the health and social care systems, and the wider economy.

Key Findings

  • We estimate that each year in the UK there are approximately 3.6 million cases of RSV in adults. In many cases the individual affected manages their own care. However, RSV in adults leads to around 600,000 GP visits, 460,000 NHS 111 calls and 24,000 hospitalisations in the UK each year. Although many cases of RSV are relatively mild in their impact, in some cases the consequences are severe and even fatal. We estimate that there are 11,800 deaths annually in the UK as a result of RSV in adults.
  • The annual cost to the NHS of looking after adult patients with RSV is estimated to be around £140m (in 2023 price terms). On top of this is an annual cost to the UK's economy of an estimated £179m due to time off work. Thus, the total economic cost is estimated to be around £319m annually, equivalent to a mean cost per adult with RSV of £87.51 per case.
  • These costs are, however, disproportionately distributed across different age groups. Whilst those aged 18–64 make up 74% of RSV cases annually in adults, and the 65+ population represent 26% of RSV cases, the spread of the health and cost burden by age is rather different. The majority, 91%, of adult deaths from RSV are in the 65+ population. Much of the burden of RSV associated with NHS costs is attributable to patients aged 65+, whereas much of the indirect cost (productivity loss) falls on those aged 18–49.

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Herbert, Kevin, Mark Cabling, Stephen Morris, Fifi Olumogba, Stephanie Stockwell, Anna Louise Todsen, and Jon Sussex, The burden of respiratory syncytial virus in adults in the UK. Santa Monica, CA: RAND Corporation, 2024. https://www.rand.org/pubs/research_reports/RRA3133-1.html.
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This research was commissioned and fully funded by Pfizer. It was conducted by researchers from RAND Europe and the University of Cambridge.

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