Observational studyClinical infectious diseases : an official publication of the Infectious Diseases Society of America2026
Burden of Respiratory Syncytial Virus Among Older Adults With an Acute Respiratory Infection: A Prospective Study in Six European Countries.
Observational study in Clinical infectious diseases : an official publication of the Infectious Diseases Society of America, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
2 citing papers in PubMed.
- An Appraisal of the Potential Downstream Benefits of RSV Vaccination in Older Adults.Reviews in medical virology · 2026Review
- Health-related Quality of Life in European Older Adults with Respiratory Syncytial Virus Over Three Respiratory Syncytial Virus Seasons.Clinical infectious diseases : an official publication of the Infectious Diseases Society of America · 2026Article
Corrections and comments
- Commented on by
Authors and funding
10 authors.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundRespiratory syncytial virus (RSV) primarily affects the respiratory tract, with a high burden among older adults. We aimed to estimate the prevalence and characteristics of RSV-associated respiratory infections in community-dwelling older adults across Europe.
methodsA prospective, observational study was conducted in six European countries over three consecutive RSV seasons (October 2021 until April 2024). Non-RSV vaccinated participants (age ≥60 years) presenting with symptoms of acute respiratory infection (ARI) at general practitioners and outpatient clinics/outpatient hospitals were recruited. Respiratory syncytial virus and other respiratory viruses were detected using a combined nasal and throat swab. Diary cards and regular phone contacts were used to collect information on onset and resolution of symptoms. The prevalence of RT-PCR confirmed RSV-ARI (cRSV-ARI) was estimated, as well as symptom duration, underlying comorbidities, prevalence of RT-PCR confirmed RSV lower respiratory tract disease (cRSV-LRTD), complications, hospitalizations, and co-infections.
resultsA total of 2573 participants were enrolled (139 with cRSV-ARI). The prevalence of cRSV-ARI varied by season: 3.6% in Season 1, 9.3% in Season 2, and 4.2% in Season 3. The most frequently reported upper respiratory, lower respiratory, and systemic symptoms were nasal congestion/rhinorrhea, cough, and fatigue (cRSV-ARI: 83.1%, 97.8%, and 64.0%; non-cRSV-ARI: 78.0%, 95.0%, and 68.2%). The overall prevalence of cRSV-LRTD was 3.9% in Season 1, 12.5% in Season 2, and 7.3% in Season 3.
conclusionsThis study highlights the substantial burden of RSV among older adults in Europe and reflects the shift in RSV epidemiology due to the COVID-19 pandemic, indicating a return to prepandemic seasonality trends. CLINICAL
trial registrationNot applicable.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.