National Surveys of Parents, Health Care Providers Reveal Staggering Impact of RSV

Amid the "tripledemic," survey findings highlight health, financial and emotional toll of respiratory syncytial virus

WASHINGTON, Jan. 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- A pair of national surveys – one of parents with children who had RSV and one of health care providers who regularly treat infants and young children with RSV – reveal the disease's burden extends beyond immediate symptoms, to include serious financial challenges, strained marriages and relationships and mental health concerns. Reported by the Alliance for Patient Access and the National Coalition for Infant Health, the findings highlight a clear need for preventive interventions against RSV and greater disease awareness.

READ "THE INDIRECT IMPACT OF RSV" SURVEY REPORT

The parent survey polled 340 parents who have had a child sick with RSV. The provider survey polled 175 health care providers who treat infants and young children who contract the virus.

• 67% of parents said their child was hospitalized with RSV.
• More than two-thirds of parents said the costs of RSV posed a financial burden or financial crisis for their family.
• 68% of parents said watching their child suffer affected their mental health.
• 43% of parents had never heard of RSV before finding out their child was sick.

• 86% of providers said they include RSV education as part of routine care.
• 99% of providers agreed that parents need more information about RSV.
• 48% of providers said it was difficult to decide whether to send an infant or child with RSV to the emergency room.
• Nearly one-third of providers have been reluctant to test for RSV because no treatment exists.

Both parents and providers overwhelmingly agreed that immunizations and vaccine-like interventions could help to minimize the burden of RSV. 92% of providers agreed that if an immunization were available it should be added to the Vaccines for Children program. 92% also agreed that policy should ensure all babies and children get access to future immunizations or preventive interventions for RSV.

• RSV is a highly contagious seasonal virus impacting the airways and lungs.
• For infants and young children, RSV can be very serious.
• RSV is the leading cause of hospitalization for infants younger than age one in the United States.
• Nearly 58,000 infants and young children are hospitalized because of RSV each year.
• RSV is the most common cause of bronchiolitis and pneumonia in children under age one.
• Infants younger than one are 16 times more likely to be hospitalized for RSV than for the flu.

The Alliance for Patient Access is a national network of policy-minded health care providers who advocate for patient-centered care. 

The National Coalition for Infant Health is a collaborative of professional, clinical, community health and family support organizations focused on education and advocacy to promote patient-centered care for infants and their families.

SOURCE Alliance for Patient Access