RSV poses growing threat to older adults with chronic conditions in Vietnam: doctors

According to the World Health Organization, RSV is a human-specific virus that infects the respiratory tract, ranging from the nose to the lungs.

While infections may present as mild upper respiratory illness, the virus can also lead to severe and potentially life-threatening lower respiratory tract disease.

Reinfection can occur throughout life, and global estimates from 2019 indicate around 33 million cases of acute lower respiratory infections linked to RSV.

Medical professionals in Vietnam warn that the risks are markedly higher among older populations and those with comorbidities.

Associate Professor Dr. Phan Thu Phuong, director of the respiratory center at Bach Mai Hospital in Hanoi, said older adults and immunocompromised individuals are more likely to develop severe disease.

Those with conditions such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and congestive heart failure face particularly serious outcomes when infected.

Adding to these concerns, Associate Professor Dr. Le Thuong Vu of the University Medical Center in Ho Chi Minh City noted that RSV can trigger significant complications in patients with existing cardiovascular and respiratory diseases.

Among older adults with COPD, chronic bronchitis, and emphysema, up to 80.4 percent experience exacerbations during hospitalization linked to RSV infection, he said.

Despite its impact, experts say the burden of RSV in older adults remains underestimated.

Associate Professor Dr. Duong Thi Hong of the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology in Hanoi pointed to limited awareness and insufficient information on prevention as key challenges.

She stressed that many individuals remain unprepared to protect themselves against RSV, insisting on strengthening preventive measures, including vaccination for adults – particularly those with underlying conditions – to reduce disease risk and ease pressure on the healthcare system.

Healthcare professionals emphasize that prevention should be treated as an integral part of care for vulnerable groups. Dr. Phan Huu Hen of Cho Ray Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City said proactive measures, including vaccination for older adults and those with chronic illnesses, can help reduce both infection risk and complications.

Current international and domestic guidelines recommend RSV vaccination for people aged 60 and above.

Doctors also underline the critical role of treating physicians in prevention efforts.

Dr. Nguyen Quoc Thai of the Cardiology Institute at Bach Mai Hospital said clinicians are central to counseling patients, raising awareness, and building trust in vaccination.

He added that prevention must be placed on equal footing with treatment within a comprehensive healthcare approach.

Pharmaceutical company GSK has introduced a vaccine-based preventive solution targeting RSV, as part of broader efforts to expand access to immunization for high-risk groups in Vietnam.

The company says it is working with professional societies across cardiology, respiratory medicine, endocrinology, and diabetes to support healthcare providers through knowledge-sharing and training initiatives.

Experts agree that improving awareness and access to preventive tools will be key to reducing the impact of RSV, particularly among older adults with comorbidities, and to improving overall quality of life for these vulnerable populations.