Respiratory syncytial virus-associated hospitalisations in Australia, 2006-2015

To estimate rates of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)-associated hospitalisation across the age spectrum, and to identify groups at particular risk of serious RSV-associated disease.

Retrospective review of National Hospital Morbidity Database data for all RSV-associated hospitalisations in Australia, 2006-2015.

RSV-coded hospitalisation rates by age, sex, Indigenous status, jurisdiction, and seasonality (month and year); hospital length of stay; in-hospital deaths.

During 2006-2015, there were 63 814 hospitalisations with an RSV-specific principal diagnostic code; 60 551 (94.9%) were of children under 5 years of age. The hospitalisation rate for children under 5 years was 418 per 100 000 population; for children under 6 months of age it was 2224 per 100 000 population; the highest rate was for infants aged 0-2 months (2778 per 100 000 population). RSV-coded hospitalisation rates were higher for adults aged 65 or more than for people aged 5-64 years (incidence rate ratio [IRR], 6.6; 95% CI, 6.2-7.1), and were also higher for Indigenous Australians than other Australians (IRR, 3.3; 95% CI, 3.2-3.5). A total of 138 in-hospital deaths were recorded, including 82 of adults aged 65 years or more (59%).

Prevention strategies targeting infants, such as maternal or early infant vaccination, would probably have the greatest impact in reducing RSV disease rates. Further characterisation of RSV disease epidemiology, particularly in older adults and Indigenous Australians, is needed to inform health care strategies.