Impact of RSV: implications for managed care.

Severe RSV disease, manifested as bronchiolitis or pneumonia, is the leading cause of hospitalization of infants younger than 1 year of age in the United States. Infants born 35 weeks or less GA are particularly at high risk of severe RSV disease, which may result in frequent NICU admissions or long hospital stays and additional health care utilization over the first 12 months of life. This care is costly--infants 33 to 36 weeks GA with a history of RSV hospitalization incur costs that are nearly 5 times as much as costs for 33 to 36 weeks GA infants with no history of RSV hospitalization. Managed care payers should be cognizant of the potential ramifications of severe RSV disease in infants. Developing a proactive RSV management strategy can help improve health outcomes and reduce unnecessary hospital resource use.