In December 2024, IQVIA released a new white paper, developed in collaboration with GSK and GCOA, examining the significant economic and clinical burden of Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) in older adults (age ≥60 years) across select high-income APEC countries, including China, Japan, South Korea, Canada, Singapore, New Zealand, Australia, Hong Kong, and Taiwan.

The study estimated that in 2023, RSV caused around 778,000 hospitalizations and USD 2.8 billion in costs, with the highest burden observed in China, followed by Japan and Canada. On average, 1 in 500 older adults were hospitalized annually, with costs ranging from USD 2,735 in New Zealand to USD 12,826 in Canada. The true burden of RSV is likely under-reported due to non-specific symptoms, suboptimal diagnostics, and inconsistent testing. The paper and its findings highlight the critical need for dedicated surveillance systems and standardized diagnostic practices for RSV in Asia-Pacific countries.