Background Older adults in nursing and care homes (NCHs) are
vulnerable to severe respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection,
hospitalisation, and death. This study aimed to gather data on RSV
disease among older adults in NCHs and identify reported risk factors
for RSV hospitalisation and case fatality. Methods The study
protocol was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42022371908). We searched
MEDLINE, EMBASE and Global Health databases to identify articles
published between 2000 and 2023. Observational and experimental studies
conducted among older adults in NCHs requiring assistive care and
reporting RSV illness were included and relevant data were extracted.
Results Of 18,690 studies screened, 32 were selected for
full-text review and 20 were included. Overall, the number of NCH
residents ranged from 42 to 1,459 with a mean age between 67.6 and 85
years. Attack rates ranged from 6.7 – 47.6% and annual incidence
ranged from 0.5 – 14%. Case fatality rates ranged from 7.7 – 23.1%.
We found similar annual incidence rates of RSV-positive acute
respiratory infection (ARI) of 4,582 (95% CI: 3,259 – 6,264) and 4,785
(95% CI: 2,258 – 10,141) per 100,000 reported in two studies. Annual
incidence rate of RSV-positive lower respiratory tract infection was
3,040 (95% CI: 1,986 – 4,454) cases per 100,000 adults. Annual RSV-ARI
hospital admission rates were between 600 (95% CI: 190 -10,000) and
1,104 (95% CI: 350 – 1,930) per 100,000 person-years. Among all RSV
disease cases, commonly reported chronic medical conditions included
chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), heart failure, ischemic
heart disease, coronary artery disease, hypertension, diabetes, kidney
dysfunction, cerebrovascular accident, malignancies, dementia, and those
with a Charlson comorbidity score > 6.5.
Conclusion Data on RSV infection among NCH residents are
limited and largely heterogeneous but document a high risk of illness,
frequent hospitalisation, and high mortality. Preventive interventions,
such as vaccination should be considered for this high-risk population.
Nationally representative epidemiologic studies and NCH-based viral
pathogen surveillance could more precisely assess the burden on NCH
residents.