Why it is important to have a good immunity: Even this common respiratory infection triples the risk of death!

Respiratory infections, acute or chronic, often have a devastating impact on our health. A recent study has revealed that a common respiratory virus, often brushed off as a minor illness, dramatically raises the risk of death for adults.
An important study that is to be presented at the ESCMID Global 2025 has revealed that adults with respiratory syncytial virus-associated acute respiratory infection (RSV-ARI) have a three-fold higher risk of death within one year compared to others.
RSV is no stranger to most families. This virus is a highly contagious and primarily effects the respiratory tract. It is the major culprit behind sniffles in kids. But for adults, especially those already battling lung conditions like asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), the virus can be far more than a seasonal inconvenience. It can lead to serious complications in adults, including pneumonia and chronic respiratory disease. The full extent of the virus’ impact on health was poorly understood until now.

The recent Danish study, which tracked thousands of patients, painted a stark picture of its toll. Researchers followed 5,289 adults diagnosed with RSV-related respiratory infections between 2011 and 2022. They were compared to a group of 15,867 similar adults without the virus. And the findings were striking. In addition to the increased risk of death, the researchers found that 57% of RSV patients ended up hospitalized, more than twice the rate of the comparison group. Intensive care admissions were nearly four times higher, affecting 5.3% of those with RSV versus just 1.4% of others.
The economic impact of the infection too was striking. Total direct healthcare costs for RSV-ARI patients during the 365-day follow-up amounted to €20,181, which is more than double the €8,085 spent on healthcare for individuals within the control group.

“One of the most striking findings from this study was the prolonged and significant impact of RSV-ARI”, lead author, Maria João Fonseca said. “Even after the acute phase, patients continued to experience worse outcomes compared to the general population. This underscores just how serious and enduring the effects of RSV-ARI can be.”
“Exacerbations of COPD and asthma were the most common adverse clinical outcomes. These pre-existing conditions are already challenging in themselves, and RSV-ARI exacerbates their severity. Because of this, it’s crucial that we pay closer attention to patients with these underlying conditions to prevent further, potentially life-threatening complications,” Fonseca added.

Talking about the measures to be taken to reduce the impact of RSV-ARI, co-author, Stanislava Bratković said, “Vaccination has proven highly effective in preventing severe outcomes from RSV. Given the significant burden of RSV-ARI highlighted by our study, prioritising vaccination for vulnerable populations is essential to reduce both health complications and associated costs.”
“Looking forward, we hope our findings will inspire further research into the broader clinical and societal burden of RSV, particularly in high-risk groups. This will help shape more targeted preventive strategies and ensure timely interventions for those who need it most,” she added.