RSV Vaccination Reduces Cardiorespiratory Hospitalizations in Adults Over 60

A comprehensive study conducted by a collaboration of multiple institutions, led by Copenhagen University Hospital-Herlev and Gentofte, has revealed promising results regarding the use of the RSVpreF vaccine in older adults. The research focused on adults aged 60 and above and found that vaccination with RSVpreF significantly lowered the incidence of all-cause cardiorespiratory hospitalizations during the 2024–2025 winter season.

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) has long been associated with increased cardiovascular risks, especially in older populations, including those with existing heart conditions. While the RSVpreF vaccine has already received approval for preventing lower respiratory tract illnesses, its effects on cardiovascular outcomes had not been thoroughly evaluated in large clinical trials.

The study, titled "Bivalent RSV Prefusion F Protein–Based Vaccine for Preventing Cardiovascular Hospitalizations in Older Adults," published in JAMA, conducted a prespecified secondary analysis of data from the DAN-RSV trial. A total of 131,276 Danish participants, with an average age of 69.4 years, were randomized evenly to receive either the RSVpreF vaccine or no vaccination during the winter of 2024–2025. About 21.8% of participants had preexisting cardiovascular disease.

Results showed that the group receiving the RSV vaccine experienced fewer hospitalizations due to cardiorespiratory issues, with 26.3 events per 1,000 participant-years compared to 29.2 in the control group. This translated to an absolute reduction of roughly 2.9 events per 1,000 participant-years and an estimated vaccine effectiveness of 9.9%. Although reductions in specific cardiovascular events like stroke and myocardial infarction were observed, these did not reach statistical significance.

Specifically, hospitalization rates for cardiovascular problems were 16.4 versus 17.7 per 1,000 participant-years, and for stroke, 3.0 versus 3.8 per 1,000 participant-years, for vaccinated and unvaccinated groups respectively. The findings support the potential for RSV vaccination not only to prevent respiratory illnesses but also to confer broader cardiorespiratory health benefits in older adults.

Overall, the authors emphasize that while the vaccine demonstrated a modest reduction in hospitalizations, it does suggest a link between RSV immunization and decreased severe cardiorespiratory complications. These results encourage broader consideration of RSV vaccination among the elderly, particularly those with known cardiovascular risks, as a strategy to mitigate serious health outcomes.

Source: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-09-rsv-vaccine-linked-cardiorespiratory-hospitalizations.html