Objective To understand the epidemilogical and clinical characteristics of respiratory syncytial virus （RSV） infection in the elderly aged ≥60 years in Pudong new district, Shanghai, from 2013 to 2023.

Methods In the comprehensive surveillance for acute respiratory infectious disease in Pudong, respiatory tract samples were collected from the elderly aged ≥60 years in 13 sentinel hospitals in Pudong from January 2013 to December 2023. Meanwhile, the epidemiological characteristics and clinical manifestations of the elderly patients were collected, and the samples were tested for respiratory pathogens.

Results A total of 3 341 cases of acute respiratory infectious disease were reported in the elderly aged ≥60 years in Pudong during this period, and the positive rate of RSV was 2.27% （76/3 341, 95% confidence interval: 1.76%–2.78%）. Based on the data of case hospital visits, the RSV infection in the elderly mainly occurred from September to February, peaking during November-February. In the 76 cases of RSV infection in the elderly, the detection rate of RSV-A was 35.53% （27/76）, and the detection rate of RSV-B was 64.47% （49/76）, RSV-B was predominant. Clinical symptoms of RSV infection in the elderly were mainly cough （89.47%, 68/76） and expectoration （61.84%, 47/76）. Additionally, 22.37% （17/76） of patients had underlying diseases, in whom 41.18% had heart disease.

Conclusion From January 2013 to December 2023, RSV infection mainly occurred in autumn and winter in the elderly aged ≥60 years in Pudong, showing an obvious seasonality. The detection rate of RSV was lowest in 2022. No RSV infections were reported in other seasons in the elderly from 2019 to 2023.