Comprehensive Summary
This article reviews the impact of respiratory syncytial virus on adults with chronic illnesses or weakened immune systems, as well as adults over 50 years old in low- and middle-income countries. Researchers used artificial intelligence to help screen thousands of studies published since 2000, eventually analyzing 77 key papers. They found that RSV cases among older and high-risk adults were associated with significant illness, hospitalizations, and even deaths, with case fatality rates reaching as high as 27% in some groups. Data also showed that RSV infections were more common during rainy or winter seasons and often led to complications such as pneumonia and cardiovascular problems. However, the review also revealed large gaps in available data, especially on RSV incidence, prevalence, and subtype distribution.
Outcomes and Implications
These findings highlight that RSV is not only a childhood disease but also a major threat to older and vulnerable adults, particularly in regions with limited healthcare resources. Understanding how widespread and severe RSV is in these groups is important for planning healthcare strategies and raising awareness among doctors and patients. The review suggests that better surveillance systems, improved diagnostic tools, and more consistent data collection are needed to capture the true burden of RSV. With vaccines and treatments for RSV beginning to emerge, filling these evidence gaps could help ensure that high-risk adults in developing countries are protected and that health systems are better prepared to respond to seasonal outbreaks.