Cost and burden of RSV related hospitalisation from 2012 to 2017 in the first year of life in Lyon, France.

OBJECTIVES

We aimed to describe direct medical costs of annual RSV-associated hospitalisation in the first year of life.

METHODS

Retrospective cohort study in Lyon, France (2012-2016). A case was defined as a laboratory confirmed RSV-infection with hospitalisation in the first year of life. Hospital costs were estimated based on the French version of Diagnosis Related Groups.

RESULTS

Overall, 350 cases in 21,930 children were identified. Incidence of RSV-associated hospitalisation in the first year of life per 1000 births was 14.5 (95% CI 13.4-15.6). Related direct medical annual costs were 364,269 €, mostly attributed to children born during the RSV season (231,959 €) and children born premature (108,673 €).

CONCLUSION

Medical costs for RSV-associated hospitalisation of newborns are higher for children born premature or born during the RSV season. Prioritised targeting of those groups may facilitate a cost-efficient strategy for the national prevention program.