Adults with specific high-risk conditions (HRCs) are more susceptible to severe respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infections. This includes individuals with asthma, congenital immunodeficiency, chronic kidney disease, those who have undergone an organ transplant, or are taking immunosuppressive medications.
A recent study published in Open Forum Infectious Diseases found that people with an HRC were 62% more likely to develop lower respiratory tract disease due to RSV. This type of illness affects the lungs and areas below the voicebox, typically presenting as pneumonia or bronchitis. Notably, Mayo Clinic researchers observed an even greater risk, with a 117% increased likelihood of RSV-associated lower respiratory tract illness among HRC adults under the age of 50.
The study also investigated the risk of acute respiratory illness, which is a milder upper respiratory infection caused by RSV. In this regard, no significant difference in risk was found between individuals with an HRC and those without.
Younger adults with HRCs often overlooked in RSV monitoring
The research, conducted between October 2022 and September 2024, involved 7,504 Mayo Clinic primary care patients from Minnesota, Wisconsin, Florida, and Arizona. Participants, aged 18 to 64, collected their own nasal and throat swabs at home when symptoms began. Approximately 45% of the volunteers had an HRC.
This study is highlighted as the most extensive US prospective, community-based RSV surveillance study focusing on individuals under 60 with HRCs published since 2005. The researchers emphasize that since younger adults with HRCs are frequently not included in RSV surveillance efforts, these findings could justify considering preventive measures for this demographic. They also suggest that expanding the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s RSV vaccine recommendation to include adults under 50 might be warranted.