TY - JOUR
T1 - Burden of respiratory syncytial virus in older adults in Taiwan
T2 - An expert perspective on knowledge gaps
AU - Lee, Yu Lin
AU - Hsieh, Szu Min
AU - Lin, Yi Tsung
AU - Shie, Shian Sen
AU - Yang, Chia Jui
AU - Hsueh, Po Ren
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2024
PY - 2024/8
Y1 - 2024/8
N2 - The burden of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection among older adults in Taiwan is not well understood due to a scarcity of published epidemiological data. Nonetheless, the increasing proportion of older adults is anticipated to translate to increased burden of RSV infection, presenting a challenge to the healthcare system. Thus, an expert meeting was convened among a panel of infectious disease specialists from Taiwan to evaluate the existing local evidence and data gaps related to RSV infection in older adults (aged ≥50 years), and propose steps to generating evidence on disease burden among this population. Overall, there are few studies on the clinical and economic burden of RSV infection in Taiwan, and existing data are limited by small sample sizes and highly selected populations. Inconsistent RSV testing practices among older adults contribute to under-diagnosis and under-reporting, driven by limitations to reimbursement policies that discourage proactive RSV testing in older adults, and the lack of appropriate, targeted RSV treatment. Crucially, the paucity of epidemiological data may perpetuate a lack of awareness of RSV among clinicians and the public, hinder investments into RSV testing at a policymaker level, and thereby impede implementation of consistent diagnostic practices, precluding a deeper understanding of RSV. To overcome these challenges, it is imperative to prioritize generation of epidemiological data to establish the burden of RSV infection among older adults in Taiwan. Such data would also support a multi-stakeholder group in assessing the impact of future RSV-related interventions, such as educational initiatives and preventative strategies including vaccines.
AB - The burden of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection among older adults in Taiwan is not well understood due to a scarcity of published epidemiological data. Nonetheless, the increasing proportion of older adults is anticipated to translate to increased burden of RSV infection, presenting a challenge to the healthcare system. Thus, an expert meeting was convened among a panel of infectious disease specialists from Taiwan to evaluate the existing local evidence and data gaps related to RSV infection in older adults (aged ≥50 years), and propose steps to generating evidence on disease burden among this population. Overall, there are few studies on the clinical and economic burden of RSV infection in Taiwan, and existing data are limited by small sample sizes and highly selected populations. Inconsistent RSV testing practices among older adults contribute to under-diagnosis and under-reporting, driven by limitations to reimbursement policies that discourage proactive RSV testing in older adults, and the lack of appropriate, targeted RSV treatment. Crucially, the paucity of epidemiological data may perpetuate a lack of awareness of RSV among clinicians and the public, hinder investments into RSV testing at a policymaker level, and thereby impede implementation of consistent diagnostic practices, precluding a deeper understanding of RSV. To overcome these challenges, it is imperative to prioritize generation of epidemiological data to establish the burden of RSV infection among older adults in Taiwan. Such data would also support a multi-stakeholder group in assessing the impact of future RSV-related interventions, such as educational initiatives and preventative strategies including vaccines.
KW - Acute respiratory infection
KW - Disease burden
KW - Epidemiology
KW - Older adults
KW - Respiratory syncytial virus
KW - Taiwan
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85195047042&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.jmii.2024.05.009
DO - 10.1016/j.jmii.2024.05.009
M3 - Review article
C2 - 38839543
AN - SCOPUS:85195047042
SN - 1684-1182
VL - 57
SP - 523
EP - 532
JO - Journal of Microbiology, Immunology and Infection
JF - Journal of Microbiology, Immunology and Infection
IS - 4
ER -