Cost of Hospitalization Associated with Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection Versus Influenza Infection in Hospitalized Older Adults.

Despite the severity of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) disease in older adults, data on its costs is limited. We compared the hospitalization costs for 2,090 adults >/=60 years hospitalized with RSV or influenza by assigning nationally-recognized direct health care costs to each hospitalization. Hospitalization with RSV was associated with longer hospitalization and increased frequency of diagnosis related groups for pulmonary complications, resulting in costs at least as great as those for influenza ($16,034 vs $15,163; 95%CI for the difference -$811, $2,547). Awareness of RSV disease burden in adults is needed to facilitate vaccination and treatment when they become available.