JAMA Netw Open

RSV infection linked to year-long increase in cardiovascular complications

December 10, 2025

A Danish nationwide cohort study found that RSV infection in adults is associated with significant and sustained CV risk extending one full year post-infection. At 365 days, excess risk reached 4.69 percentage points for any CV event. The greatest risk was seen in hospitalized patients (6.61 percentage points), older adults aged 85 to 94 years (7.93 percentage points), and those with preexisting CV disease (11.95 percentage points) or diabetes (7.50 percentage points). These findings, comparable to influenza-associated cardiovascular risks, underscore RSV as an important cardiovascular risk factor beyond its respiratory effects.

Clinical takeaway: Maintain heightened vigilance for cardiovascular complications up to one year following RSV infection, particularly in hospitalized older adults, and prioritize RSV vaccination in patients with cardiovascular comorbidities.

Source:

Hviid A, et al. (2025, December 8). JAMA Netw Open. Cardiovascular Events 1 Year After Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection in Adults. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41359332/