Understanding the Burden of Respiratory Syncytial Virus in Older Adults in Latin America: An Expert Perspective on Knowledge Gaps

• DOI: 10.1007/s41030-024-00253-3
• Publication Date: 2024-02-15T07:01:58Z
• Authors: Ricardo Amorim Co...; Francisco Arancibia; Renato De Ávila K...; Alberto Chebabo; Gabriel García; Luis Miguel Gutié...; Gustavo Lopardo; Julio Nemerovsky; Carlos M. Pérez; Adrian Rendon; Guillermo M. Ruiz...; Bhumika Aggarwal; Arnas Berzanskis; Otavio Cintra
• Keywords: 0301 basic medicine; Diseases of the respiratory system; 03 medical and health sciences; Latin America; Consensus; RC705-779; Epidemiology; RSV; Disease burden; Review; Respiratory syncytial virus

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a significant global health concern and major cause of hospitalization, particularly among infants and older adults. The clinical impact of RSV is well characterized in infants; however, in many countries, the burden and risk of RSV in older populations are overlooked. In Latin America, there are limited data on RSV epidemiology and disease management in older adults. Therefore, the impact of RSV in this region needs to be addressed. Here, current insights on RSV infections in older populations in Latin America, including those with underlying health conditions, are discussed. We also outline the key challenges limiting our understanding of the burden of RSV in Latin America in a worldwide context and propose an expert consensus to improve our understanding of the burden of RSV in the region. By so doing, we aim to ultimately improve disease management and outcomes of those at risk and to alleviate the impact on healthcare systems.A graphical plain language summary is available with this article.