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Review
. 2024 Dec 31;20(1):2388943.
doi: 10.1080/21645515.2024.2388943. Epub 2024 Aug 19.

Respiratory syncytial virus: challenges in diagnosis and impact on the elderly: Recommendations from a multidisciplinary panel

Lessandra Michelin  1 , Nancy Bellei  2 , Marcelo Ferreira da Costa Gomes  3 , Sonia M Raboni  4 , Maisa Kairalla  5 , Ricardo Amorim Correa  6 , Monica Levi  7 , Alberto Chebabo  8 , Isabela Ballalai  9 , Sergio Cimerman  7   10   11 , Cecilia M Roteli-Martins  12 , Susana Aidé  13 , Margareth P Dalcolmo  14 , Bruna M G de Veras  1 , Renato De Ávila Kfouri  5   7 , Otavio Cintra  15
Affiliations
Review

Respiratory syncytial virus: challenges in diagnosis and impact on the elderly: Recommendations from a multidisciplinary panel

Lessandra Michelin et al. Hum Vaccin Immunother. .

Abstract

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is an important cause of respiratory illness. While most attention is paid to childhood infection, the RSV burden in adults ≥60 y should also be considered. In Brazil, this is generally underrecognized, where greater focus is toward other respiratory pathogens. This article presents insights from a multidisciplinary panel gathered to review epidemiologic data and current diagnostic approaches to RSV in Brazil (and their limitations) and develop communication strategies to improve knowledge and awareness. National surveillance data indicate a steady increase in cases of RSV-related severe acute respiratory illness (RSV-SARI) in those aged ≥60 y in recent years, with high fatality rates (>30%). Routine RSV testing in older individuals with respiratory symptoms is relatively low. Educational activities targeted toward health-care professionals and the general public are critical to raising awareness of the importance of RSV in older individuals, particularly as protective vaccines are now available.

Keywords: Brazil; RSV; Respiratory syncytial virus; disease burden; older adults.

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Conflict of interest statement

Otavio Cintra is employed by and holds shares in GSK. Bruna M G de Veras and Lessandra Michelin are employed by GSK. Nancy Bellei declares payment for lectures and advisory board from GSK. Marcelo Ferreira da Costa Gomes declares being an employee of Fiocruz, payement for lectures by SBIm (Sociedade Brasileira de Imunizações - Brazilian Society of Immunization), support for attending meetings by Butantan Instisute, ICTP-SAIFR and Brazilian Ministry of Health, being a member of Technical Advisory Board for covid, influenza and other respiratory viruses of the Brazilian Ministry of Health without any financial compensation and payment for advisory board and travel expenses from GSK. Sonia M Raboni declares participation in advisory boards for GSK, payment for producing scientific informative material from Sanofi-Pasteur, and support for attending meetings and/or travel from Sanofi-Pasteur, Takeda, and Pfizer. Maisa Kairalla declares grant for advisory board from GSK and Pfizer; payment for lectures from GSK, Sanofi, Pfizer and Adium/Moderna; support for attending meetings and/or travel from Pfizer and Adium/Moderna. Ricardo Amorim Correa declares consulting fees from Bayer and MSD; honoraria for lectures and speaker’s bureau from Bayer, Janssen and GSK; support for attending meetings from Bayer and being on education director and president elect (2025-2026) of SBPT. Monica Levi, declares grant for advisory board from GSK and Merck Shape & Dome; payment for lectures from GSK, Merck Shape & Dome and Sanofi; support for attending meetings and/or travel from Merck Shape & Dome, Adium/Moderna and Sanofi. Alberto Chebabo declares grant for advisory board from GSK; payment for lectures from Merck Shape & Dome, Pfizer and Takeda; support for attending meetings and/or travel from Pfizer, Takeda and Adium/Moderna and participation to advisory boards for GSK, Sanofi, Pfizer and Takeda. Isabela Ballalai declares Support from GSK for material and virtual meetings; consulting fees from GSK and support for attending meetings and/or travel from GSK, Pfizer and MSD. Sergio Cimerman declares grant for advisory board from GSK; payment for lectures from Merck Shape & Dome, Pfizer and Adium/Moderna; support for attending meetings and/or travel from Merck Shape & Dome and Adium/Moderna and participation to advisory boards for GSK. Cecilia M Roteli-Martins declares consulting fees from Pfizer, MSD, Sanofi-Pasteur and GSK; payment for lectures from Pfizer, Sanofi-Pasteur and GSK; support for attending meetings and/or travel from MSD and Pfizer and participation to the Comissão Nacional de vacinas da Febrasgo. Susana Aidé declares receiving study materials supplied by GSK, participation in advisory boards for GSK, being part of the National Vaccine Commission of the Brazilian Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (Febrasgo). Margareth P Dalcolmo declares nothing. Renato De Ávila Kfouri declares support for material and virtual meeting from GSK; consulting fees for participation in an advisory board from GSK and participation to advisory boards for Clover flu and COVID vaccines.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Overview of RSV-SARI notifications and seasonal patterns in Brazil since 2013.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
RSV-SARI case numbers reported within the SIVEP-Gripe database 2020–2022.
Figure 3.
Figure 3.
RSV-SARI mortality 2020–2022.
Figure 4.
Figure 4.
Risk of hospitalization due to RSV associated with comorbidities.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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