Relation between influenza vaccination and outpatient visits, hospitalization, and mortality in elderly persons with chronic lung disease

Real-world effectiveness of influenza vaccine against medical-attended influenza infection during 2023/24 season in Ili Kazakh Autonomous Prefecture, China: A test-negative, case-control study

In the post-COVID-19 pandemic era, influenza virus infections continuously lead to a global disease burden. Evaluating vaccine effectiveness against influenza infection is crucial to inform vaccine design and vaccination strategy. In this study, we recruited 1120 patients with influenza-like illness (ILI) who attended fever clinics of 4 sentinel hospitals in the Ili Kazakh Autonomous Prefecture, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China, from January 1 to April 7, 2024. Using a test-negative design, we estimated influenza vaccine effectiveness (VE) of 54.7% (95% CrI: 23.7, 73.1) against medical-attended influenza infection, with 62.3% (95% CrI: 29.3, 79.8) against influenza A, and 51.2% (95% CrI: 28.7, 83.0) against influenza B. Despite the moderate VE estimated in this study, influenza vaccination remains the most important approach to prevent influenza at the community level.

Cost-effectiveness of seasonal influenza vaccination in WHO-defined high-risk populations in Bangladesh

Background

Bangladesh carries a substantial health and economic burden of seasonal influenza, particularly among the World Health Organization (WHO)-defined high-risk populations. We implemented a modelling study to determine the cost-effectiveness of influenza vaccination in each of five high-risk groups (pregnant women, children under five years of age, adults with underlying health conditions, older adults (≥60 years), and healthcare personnel) to inform policy decisions on risk group prioritisation for influenza vaccination in Bangladesh.

Methods

We implemented a Markov decision-analytic model to estimate the impact of influenza vaccination for each target risk group. We obtained model inputs from hospital-based influenza surveillance data, unpublished surveys, and published literature (preferentially from studies in Bangladesh, followed by regional and global ones). We used quality-adjusted life years (QALY) as the health outcome of interest. We also estimated incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs) for each risk group by comparing the costs and QALY of vaccinating compared to not vaccinating each group, where the ICER represents the additional cost needed to achieve one year of additional QALY from a given intervention. We considered a willingness-to-pay threshold (ICER) of less than one gross domestic product (GDP) per capita as highly cost-effective and of one to three times GDP per capita as cost-effective (per WHO standard). For Bangladesh, this threshold ranges between USD 2462 and USD 7386.

Results

The estimated ICERs were USD -99, USD -87, USD -4, USD 792, and USD 229 per QALY gained for healthcare personnel, older adults (≥60), children aged less than five years, adults with comorbid conditions, and pregnant women, respectively. For all risk groups, ICERs were below the WHO willingness-to-pay threshold for Bangladesh. Vaccinating pregnant women and adults with comorbid conditions was highly cost-effective per additional life year gained, while vaccinating healthcare personnel, older adults (≥60), and children under five years were cost-saving per additional life year gained.

Conclusions

Influenza vaccination to all target risk groups in Bangladesh would be either cost-saving or cost-effective, per WHO guidelines of GDP-based thresholds.

Influenza vaccination for elderly, vulnerable and high-risk subjects: a narrative review and expert opinion

Influenza is associated with a substantial health burden, especially in high-risk subjects such as older adults, frail individuals and those with underlying chronic diseases. In this review, we summarized clinical findings regarding the impact of influenza in vulnerable populations, highlighted the benefits of influenza vaccination in preventing severe illness and complications and reviewed the main evidence on the efficacy, effectiveness and safety of the vaccines that are best suited to older adults among those available in Italy. The adverse outcomes associated with influenza infection in elderly and frail subjects and those with underlying chronic diseases are well documented in the literature, as are the benefits of vaccination (mostly in older adults and in patients with cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and chronic lung disease). High-dose and adjuvanted inactivated influenza vaccines were specifically developed to provide enhanced immune responses in older adults, who generally have low responses mainly due to immunosenescence, comorbidities and frailty. These vaccines have been evaluated in clinical studies and systematic reviews by international immunization advisory boards, including the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control. The high-dose vaccine is the only licensed influenza vaccine to have demonstrated greater efficacy versus a standard-dose vaccine in preventing laboratory-confirmed influenza in a randomized controlled trial. Despite global recommendations, the vaccination coverage in high-risk populations is still suboptimal. All healthcare professionals (including specialists) have an important role in increasing vaccination rates.

For a structured response to the psychosocial consequences of the restrictive measures imposed by the global COVID-19 health pandemic: the MAVIPAN longitudinal prospective cohort study protocol

INTRODUCTION

The COVID-19 pandemic and associated restrictive measures have caused important disruptions in economies and labour markets, changed the way we work and socialise, forced schools to close and healthcare and social services to reorganise. This unprecedented crisis forces individuals to make considerable efforts to adapt and will have psychological and social consequences, mainly on vulnerable individuals, that will remain once the pandemic is contained and will most likely exacerbate existing social and gender health inequalities. This crisis also puts a toll on the capacity of our healthcare and social services structures to provide timely and adequate care. The MAVIPAN (Ma vie et la pandémie/ My Life and the Pandemic) study aims to document how individuals, families, healthcare workers and health organisations are affected by the pandemic and how they adapt.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

MAVIPAN is a 5-year longitudinal prospective cohort study launched in April 2020 across the province of Quebec (Canada). Quantitative data will be collected through online questionnaires (4-6 times/year) according to the evolution of the pandemic. Qualitative data will be collected with individual and group interviews and will seek to deepen our understanding of coping strategies. Analysis will be conducted under a mixed-method umbrella, with both sequential and simultaneous analyses of quantitative and qualitative data.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

MAVIPAN aims to support the healthcare and social services system response by providing high-quality, real-time information needed to identify those who are most affected by the pandemic and by guiding public health authorities' decision making regarding intervention and resource allocation to mitigate these impacts. MAVIPAN was approved by the Ethics Committees of the Primary Care and Population Health Research Sector of CIUSSS de la Capitale-Nationale (Committee of record) and of the additional participating institutions.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

NCT04575571.

Time Trends (2012-2020), Sex Differences and Predictors for Influenza Vaccination Uptake among Individuals with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease in Spain

(1) Background: To analyze time trends, sex differences, and factors associated with influenza vaccination uptake among individuals with COPD in Spain, 2012−2020. (2) Methods: A cross-sectional study based on data from the European Health Surveys for Spain, 2020 (EHSS2020) and 2014 and from the Spanish National Health Interview Surveys for 2017 and 2012. (3) Results: The study included 65,447 participants. Prevalence of COPD was 5.9% (n = 3855). Overall, the influenza vaccination uptake among COPD patients was 57.8% versus 28.6% for those without COPD (p < 0.001). Men with COPD reported higher uptake than women in all the surveys studied. Neither the crude nor the multivariable analysis showed a significant variation change overtime for people with COPD. However, among those aged <65 years, crude uptake decreased from 2012 to 2020 (39.4% vs. 33.3%; p = 0.039). Over the entire period, men were vaccinated significantly more than women (OR 1.28; 95% CI 1.12−1.47). Among COPD participants, included in the EHSS2020, independent predictors of vaccine uptake included being male, higher age, reporting no current smoking and suffering cancer or heart disease. (4) Conclusions: In COPD patients, the influenza vaccination uptake is below desirable levels and did not improve from 2012 to 2020. Sex differences are found, with consistent and constant lower uptake among women with COPD. The observed lower uptake among COPD women and patients with unhealthy lifestyle requires increased attention.

Improving Adult Vaccination Status in the United States

Adult immunization practices leave much to be desired. Misinformation has increased mistrust. As a result, Latino and African American populations have low rates of annual flu vaccinations and, during the COVID-19 pandemic, lag behind for COVID-19 vaccination. Historically, healthcare staff have failed to adhere to adult immunization guidelines contributing to patient infections. Healthcare staff, both clinical and non-clinical, must lead by example by making “prevention primary”. Most adults may not realize they need immunizations. We recommend the following steps to increase immunization uptake: Make adult immunization a standard of patient care as we do for children. Assess immunization status at every clinical opportunity. Strongly recommend vaccinations needed. Administer needed vaccinations, multiple if warranted. Document vaccines received by your patient. Participate in your state’s immunization registry and work with community organizations that can help make adult immunization the norm.

Immunogenicity of trivalent seasonal influenza vaccine in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Objective: Current evidence on the immunogenicity of influenza vaccination in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is limited. To address this need for additional knowledge, we conducted a study on the immunogenicity of trivalent seasonal influenza vaccine (TIV) in COPD patients.Methods: We recruited patients from respiratory outpatient clinics of three hospitals in Tangshan, Hebei province who had stable confirmed COPD, were less than 80 y old, and reported not having had influenza or receiving TIV during the study season prior to enrollment. Patients who had a history of allergy to any TIV component or were classified as having very severe COPD were excluded from the study. Eligible and consenting participants were given one dose of TIV after obtaining a baseline blood sample. A second blood sample was obtained 5 weeks later. We used hemagglutination inhibition (HI) assays to measure antibody responses. We considered seropositive to be an HI titer ≥1:10. We considered seroprotection to be an HI titer ≥1:40 and seroconversion to be either a change from seronegative to a post-vaccination titer of ≥1:40 or a fourfold rise in antibody titer among baseline seropositive subjects. Each subject was followed for 1 month to assess the frequency and type of adverse events.Results: Eighty-eight subjects completed our study; the median age was 64 y; most (62.5%) had moderately severe COPD; 48.9% of the subjects had comorbid conditions in addition to COPD. Post-vaccination seropositive rates for influenza H1N1, H3N2, and B were all 100%; corresponding seroprotection rates were 96.6%, 93.2%, and 98.9%; seroconversion rates were 81.8%, 87.5%, and 75.0%. There were no statistical differences in seroconversion (P = .10) and seroprotection (P = .30) among the three types of influenza virus. Geometric mean titers (1:) of HI antibodies to H1N1, H3N2, and B were 18.8 (95% CI: 14.0-25.1), 12.2 (95% CI: 9.6-15.4), and 31.8 (95% CI: 26.1-38.8) at baseline, and 267.0 (95% CI: 213.8-333.4), 190.3 (95% CI: 151.7-238.6), and 201.1 (95% CI: 166.5-242.8) after vaccination.Conclusion: The immunogenicity of one dose of influenza vaccine was excellent in COPD patients. Our study supports recommending influenza vaccination for COPD patients to provide protection from influenza and its complications.

Diagnostic and therapeutic challenges of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in the elderly

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) imposes a large burden on the global population and even more so for the elderly who face significant obstacles in the diagnosis, management, and psychosocial effects of the disease. This review describes the current challenges and key points in the management of COPD in the elderly.

RECENT FINDINGS

Lower limit rather than fixed cut off of the FEV1/FVC ratio can improve the diagnosis and better predict COPD mortality. High relative to standard dose influenza vaccination reduces confirmed cases of influenza overall and reduces hospitalizations in older nursing home residents. Simple interventions that include electronic health record tracking can significantly improve vaccination rates. Although many inhaler and nebulized medications are available for the elderly, the final regimen is usually determined by a combination of expense, issues with proper device use (from difficulty with coordination, hand grip, inspiratory flows or cognitive function) and the side effect profile. Fortunately, the switch to cheaper or better covered alternatives can be well tolerated with improvement in adherence and exacerbations of COPD. Finally, caution should be made against ageism, which may be a factor in the recommendation of rehabilitation or palliative care in the elderly COPD patient, as both are underused despite evidence of benefit.

SUMMARY

Although care for the elderly COPD patient can be difficult, we summarize key points that the physician should be cognizant of to provide comprehensive care.

Targeting tumour necrosis factor to ameliorate viral pneumonia

Pneumonia is a serious complication associated with inflammation of the lungs due to infection with viral pathogens. Seasonal and pandemic influenza viruses, variola virus (agent of smallpox) and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2; agent of COVID-19) are some leading examples. Viral pneumonia is triggered by excessive inflammation associated with dysregulated cytokine production, termed 'cytokine storm'. Several cytokines have been implicated but tumour necrosis factor (TNF) plays a critical role in driving lung inflammation, severe lung pathology and death. Despite this, the exact role TNF plays in the aetiology and pathogenesis of virus infection-induced respiratory complications is not well understood. In this review, we discuss the pathological and immunomodulatory roles of TNF in contributing to immunopathology and resolution of lung inflammation, respectively, in mouse models of influenza- and smallpox (mousepox)-induced pneumonia. We review studies that have investigated dampening of inflammation on the outcome of severe influenza and orthopoxvirus infections. Most studies on the influenza model have evaluated the efficacy of treatment with anti-inflammatory drugs, including anti-TNF agents, in animal models on the day of viral infection. We question the merits of those studies as they are not transferable to the clinic given that individuals generally present at a hospital only after the onset of disease symptoms and not on the day of infection. We propose that research should be directed at determining whether dampening lung inflammation after the onset of disease symptoms will reduce morbidity and mortality. Such a treatment strategy will be more relevant clinically.

Effects of influenza vaccination on the risk of cardiovascular and respiratory diseases and all-cause mortality

BACKGROUND

Influenza vaccination is a simple strategy recommended for the prevention of influenza infection and its complications. This meta-analysis aimed to provide current supportive evidence for the breadth and validity of the observed protective effects of influenza vaccination on cardiovascular and respiratory adverse outcomes and all-cause mortality in older adults and in general adult population.

METHODS

We searched PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library to identify all published studies comparing influenza vaccination with placebo from the database inception to November 11, 2018. These included studies reporting the associations of influenza vaccination with the risk of aforementioned adverse outcomes.

RESULTS

The pooled adjusted relative risks among influenza-vaccinated people relative to unvaccinated people for the outcomes of interest were 0.74 (95 % confidence interval [CI] = 0.70-0.78) for cardiovascular diseases (63 studies), 0.82 (95 % CI = 0.75-0.91) for respiratory diseases (29 studies), and 0.57 (95 % CI = 0.51-0.63) for all-cause mortality (43 studies). We performed subgroup analysis of age, sex, and region/country and found that these protective effects were evident in the general adult population and particularly robust in older adults and in those with pre-existing specific diseases.

CONCLUSION

Influenza vaccine is associated with a significant risk reduction of cardiovascular and respiratory adverse outcomes as well as all-cause mortality. Such a preventative measure can benefit the general population as well as those in old age and with pre-existing specific diseases.

Attractive Flu Shot: A Behavioral Approach to Increasing Influenza Vaccination Uptake Rates

Background. We suggest and examine a behavioral approach to increasing seasonal influenza vaccine uptake. Our idea combines behavioral effects generated by a dominated option, together with more traditional tools, such as providing information and recommendations. Methods. Making use of the seasonal nature of the flu, our treatments present participants with 2 options to receive the shot: early in the season, which is recommended and hence "attractive," or later. Three additional layers are examined: 1) mentioning that the vaccine is more likely to run out of stock late in the season, 2) the early shot is free while the late one costs a fee, and 3) the early shot carries a monetary benefit. We compare vaccination intentions in these treatments to those of a control group who were invited to receive the shot regardless of timing. Results. Using a sample of the Israeli adult population (n = 3271), we found positive effects of all treatments on vaccination intentions, and these effects were significant for 3 of the 4 treatments. In addition, the vast majority of those who are willing to vaccinate intend to get the early shot. Conclusions. Introducing 2 options to get vaccinated against influenza (early or late) positively affects intentions to receive the flu shot. In addition, this approach nudges participants to take the shot in early winter, a timing that has been shown to be more cost-effective.

Influenza Vaccination and COVID19 Mortality in the USA

COVID-19 mortality rate is higher in the elderly and in those with preexisting chronic medical conditions. The elderly also suffer from increased morbidity and mortality from seasonal influenza infection, and thus annual influenza vaccination is recommended for them. In this study, we explore a possible area-level association between influenza vaccination coverage in people aged 65 years and older and the number of deaths from COVID-19. To this end, we used COVID-19 data until June 10, 2020 together with population health data for the United States at the county level. We fit quasi-Poisson regression models using influenza vaccination coverage in the elderly population as the independent variable and the number of deaths from COVID-19 as the outcome variable. We adjusted for a wide array of potential confounding variables using both county-level generalized propensity scores for influenza vaccination rates, as well as direct adjustment. Our results suggest that influenza vaccination coverage in the elderly population is negatively associated with mortality from COVID-19. This finding is robust to using different analysis periods, different thresholds for inclusion of counties, and a variety of methodologies for confounding adjustment. In conclusion, our results suggest a potential protective effect of the influenza vaccine on COVID-19 mortality in the elderly population. The significant public health implications of this possibility point to an urgent need for studying the relationship between influenza vaccination and COVID-19 mortality at the individual level, to investigate both the epidemiology and any underlying biological mechanism.

Susceptibility to frequent exacerbation in COPD patients: Impact of the exacerbations history, vaccinations and comorbidities?

INTRODUCTION

Exacerbations are key events in the natural history of COPD, but our understanding of their longitudinal determinants remains unclear. We used data from a large observational study to test the hypothesis that vaccination status and comorbidities could be associated with the occurrence of exacerbations profile.

METHODS

Diagnosed COPD patients have been included by their pulmonologists, with up to 3 years of follow-up. Data were analyzed using the KmL method designed to cluster longitudinal data and receiver operating characteristic curve analysis to determine the best threshold to allocate patients to identified clusters.

RESULTS

932 COPD patients were included since January 2014, 446 patients (65.68% males, 35.59% current smokers) were followed over a period of 3 years with complete data. 239(28.15%) patients reported two or more exacerbations in the year before enrolment (frequent exacerbations). Among them 142(16.68%) also had frequent exacerbations in the first year of the study, and 69(8.10%) who remained frequent exacerbators in the second year. Based on our hypothesis, we were able to determine four phenotypes: A (infrequent), B (frequent in underweight patients), C (transient), and D (frequent in obese patients). Frequent exacerbators had more airflow limitation and symptoms. Irrespective of cut-offs set to define the optimal number of clusters, a history of exacerbations OR: 3.72[2.53-5.49], presence of anxiety OR: 2.03[1.24-3.31] and absence of the annual influenza vaccination OR: 1.97[1.20-3.24] remained associated with the frequent exacerbator phenotypes.

CONCLUSIONS

The most important determinants of frequent exacerbations are a history of exacerbations, anxiety and unvaccinated against influenza.

Effectiveness of Influenza Vaccination on Hospitalizations and Risk Factors for Severe Outcomes in Hospitalized Patients With COPD

BACKGROUND

The effectiveness of influenza vaccination in reducing influenza-related hospitalizations among patients with COPD is not well described, and influenza vaccination uptake remains suboptimal.

METHODS

Data were analyzed from a national, prospective, multicenter cohort study including patients with COPD, hospitalized with any acute respiratory illness or exacerbation between 2011 and 2015. All patients underwent nasopharyngeal swab screening with polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing for influenza. The primary outcome was an influenza-related hospitalization. We identified influenza-positive cases and negative control subjects and used multivariable logistic regression with a standard test-negative design to estimate the vaccine effectiveness for preventing influenza-related hospitalizations.

RESULTS

Among 4,755 hospitalized patients with COPD, 4,198 (88.3%) patients with known vaccination status were analyzed. The adjusted analysis showed a 38% reduction in influenza-related hospitalizations in vaccinated vs unvaccinated individuals. Influenza-positive patients (n = 1,833 [38.5%]) experienced higher crude mortality (9.7% vs 7.9%; P = .047) and critical illness (17.2% vs 12.1%; P < .001) compared with influenza-negative patients. Risk factors for mortality in influenza-positive patients included age > 75 years (OR, 3.7 [95% CI, 0.4-30.3]), cardiac comorbidity (OR, 2.0 [95% CI, 1.3-3.2]), residence in long-term care (OR, 2.6 [95% CI, 1.5-4.5]), and home oxygen use (OR, 2.9 [95% CI, 1.6-5.1]).

CONCLUSIONS

Influenza vaccination significantly reduced influenza-related hospitalization among patients with COPD. Initiatives to increase vaccination uptake and early use of antiviral agents among patients with COPD could reduce influenza-related hospitalization and critical illness and improve health-care costs in this vulnerable population.

TRIAL REGISTRY

ClinicalTrials.govNo.:NCT01517191; URL www.clinicaltrials.gov.

Pulmonary complications of influenza infection: a targeted narrative review

Severe influenza infection represents a leading cause of global morbidity and mortality. Several clinical syndromes that involve a number of organs may be associated with Influenza infection. However, lower respiratory complications remain the most common and serious sequel of influenza infection. These include influenza pneumonia, superinfection with bacteria and fungi, exacerbation of underlying lung disease and ARDS. This review analyzes the available literature on the epidemiology and clinical considerations of these conditions. It also provides an overview of the effects of type of influenza, antiviral therapy, vaccination and other therapies on the outcome of these complications.

[Prevalence of influenza vaccination in elderly Brazilian with chronic diseases]

This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of influenza vaccination in elderly Brazilians with specific chronic diseases. The sample included individuals 60 years or older (n = 23,815) participating in the National Health Survey (PNS) in 2013. The study estimated the prevalence rates for influenza vaccination and the respective 95% confidence intervals (95%CI). The associations were verified with the chi-square test (Rao-Scott) with 5% significance. Prevalence of influenza vaccination in the elderly was 73.1% (95%CI: 72.0-74.1), and there was no significant difference in prevalence rates between men and women (p = 0.237). Statistically significant differences were observed in prevalence rates for elderly that reported arterial hypertension, 75% (p < 0.001), diabetes mellitus, 76.5% (p = 0.009), cardiac disease, 79.2% (p < 0.001), and lung disease or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), 87% (p = 0.001). The results showed low prevalence of vaccination in elderly with some specific chronic diseases for whom there is formal recommendation to receive the vaccine, suggesting the need for a vaccination campaign to extrapolate the age cutoff (elderly) and better targeting to these specific subgroups.

Engaging Communities to Reach Immigrant and Minority Populations: The Minnesota Immunization Networking Initiative (MINI), 2006-2017

In Minneapolis-St Paul, Minnesota, factors such as cultural and linguistic diversity make it difficult for public health agencies to reach immigrant and racial/ethnic minority populations with health initiatives. Founded in 2006, the Minnesota Immunization Networking Initiative (MINI) is a community project that has provided more than 80 000 free influenza vaccinations to vulnerable populations, including immigrants and racial/ethnic minority groups. MINI administered 5910 vaccinations through 99 community-based vaccination clinics during the 2017-2018 influenza season and surveyed the clients in their own language about influenza vaccination knowledge and practices. Among those surveyed, 2545 (43.1%) were uninsured and 408 (6.9%) received a first-time influenza vaccination at the MINI clinic. A total of 2893 (49.0%) respondents heard about the clinic through their faith community. Lessons learned included the importance of building relationships with community leaders and involving them as full partners, holding clinics in community-based settings to bring vaccinations to clients, and reporting outcomes to partners.

Evaluation of Pharmacist-Initiated Interventions on Vaccination Rates in Patients with Asthma or COPD

To determine if pharmacy-initiated interventions improved the rate of influenza and pneumococcal vaccinations in adult patients with asthma and/or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Adult patients who filled prescriptions at one of three community pharmacies, who had a dispensing history indicative of an asthma and/or COPD diagnosis were randomized to receive a personal phone call or standardized mailed letter recommending influenza and pneumococcal vaccinations, or control with no vaccination information. The rate of influenza and pneumococcal vaccinations was measured for each group and measured using Chi square. Of 831 eligible participants, 210 patients completed the study, and self-reported a diagnosis of asthma and/or COPD. The influenza vaccine was administered to 56 (72.7%), 55 (87.3%), and 62 (88.6%) patients (p = 0.019); pneumococcal vaccine was administered to 46 (59.7%), 39 (61.9%), and 39 (55.7%) patients in the phone call, letter, and control groups, respectively. While the control group had significantly more influenza vaccinations, between the interventions the letter showed a higher rate of influenza vaccination over the phone call. Reviewing patients under age 65, the letter had a significantly higher rate of influenza vaccination than the phone call (p = 0.021). No significant improvement was found for the pneumococcal vaccination. Patients under age 65 who received a mailed letter had a significantly higher rate of influenza vaccination than those who received a phone call, and had a higher rate of pneumococcal vaccination. A standardized, mailed letter may help community pharmacists improve vaccination rates in patients with asthma and/or COPD.

Excess Deaths Attributable to Influenza-Like Illness in the ESRD Population

BACKGROUND

Morbidity and mortality vary seasonally. Timing and severity of influenza seasons contribute to those patterns, especially among vulnerable populations such as patients with ESRD. However, the extent to which influenza-like illness (ILI), a syndrome comprising a range of potentially serious respiratory tract infections, contributes to mortality in patients with ESRD has not been quantified.

METHODS

We used data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Outpatient Influenza-like Illness Surveillance Network and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services ESRD death data from 2000 to 2013. After addressing the increasing trend in deaths due to the growing prevalent ESRD population, we calculated quarterly relative mortality compared with average third-quarter (summer) death counts. We used linear regression models to assess the relationship between ILI data and mortality, separately for quarters 4 and 1 for each influenza season, and model parameter estimates to predict seasonal mortality counts and calculate excess ILI-associated deaths.

RESULTS

An estimated 1% absolute increase in quarterly ILI was associated with a 1.5% increase in relative mortality for quarter 4 and a 2.0% increase for quarter 1. The average number of annual deaths potentially attributable to ILI was substantial, about 1100 deaths per year.

CONCLUSIONS

We found an association between community ILI activity and seasonal variation in all-cause mortality in patients with ESRD, with ILI likely contributing to >1000 deaths annually. Surveillance efforts, such as timely reporting to the CDC of ILI activity within dialysis units during influenza season, may help focus attention on high-risk periods for this vulnerable population.

Immunization status in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: A multicenter study from Turkey

OBJECTIVE:

The purpose of this study is to detect the prevalence and the factors associated with influenza and pneumococcal vaccination and outcomes of vaccination during 2013–2014 season in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in Turkey.

METHODS:

This was a multicenter retrospective cohort study performed in 53 different centers in Turkey.

RESULTS:

During the study period, 4968 patients were included. COPD was staged as GOLD 1-2-3-4 in 9.0%, 42.8%, 35.0%, and 13.2% of the patients, respectively. Influenza vaccination rate in the previous year was 37.9%; and pneumococcus vaccination rate, at least once during in a life time, was 13.3%. Patients with older age, higher level of education, more severe COPD, and comorbidities, ex-smokers, and patients residing in urban areas had higher rates of influenza vaccination. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that advanced age, higher education levels, presence of comorbidities, higher COPD stages, and exacerbation rates were associated with both influenza and pneumococcal vaccination. The number of annual physician/outpatient visits and hospitalizations due to COPD exacerbation was 2.73 ± 2.85 and 0.92 ± 1.58 per year, respectively. Patients with older age, lower education levels, more severe COPD, comorbid diseases, and lower body mass index and patients who are male and are residing in rural areas and vaccinated for influenza had significantly higher rates of COPD exacerbation.

CONCLUSIONS:

The rates of influenza and pneumococcal vaccination in COPD patients were quite low, and the number of annual physician/outpatient visits and hospitalizations due to COPD exacerbation was high in Turkey. Advanced age, higher education levels, comorbidities, and higher COPD stages were associated with both influenza and pneumococcal vaccination.

Global, regional, and national incidence, prevalence, and years lived with disability for 354 diseases and injuries for 195 countries and territories, 1990-2017: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017

BACKGROUND

The Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study 2017 (GBD 2017) includes a comprehensive assessment of incidence, prevalence, and years lived with disability (YLDs) for 354 causes in 195 countries and territories from 1990 to 2017. Previous GBD studies have shown how the decline of mortality rates from 1990 to 2016 has led to an increase in life expectancy, an ageing global population, and an expansion of the non-fatal burden of disease and injury. These studies have also shown how a substantial portion of the world's population experiences non-fatal health loss with considerable heterogeneity among different causes, locations, ages, and sexes. Ongoing objectives of the GBD study include increasing the level of estimation detail, improving analytical strategies, and increasing the amount of high-quality data.

METHODS

We estimated incidence and prevalence for 354 diseases and injuries and 3484 sequelae. We used an updated and extensive body of literature studies, survey data, surveillance data, inpatient admission records, outpatient visit records, and health insurance claims, and additionally used results from cause of death models to inform estimates using a total of 68 781 data sources. Newly available clinical data from India, Iran, Japan, Jordan, Nepal, China, Brazil, Norway, and Italy were incorporated, as well as updated claims data from the USA and new claims data from Taiwan (province of China) and Singapore. We used DisMod-MR 2.1, a Bayesian meta-regression tool, as the main method of estimation, ensuring consistency between rates of incidence, prevalence, remission, and cause of death for each condition. YLDs were estimated as the product of a prevalence estimate and a disability weight for health states of each mutually exclusive sequela, adjusted for comorbidity. We updated the Socio-demographic Index (SDI), a summary development indicator of income per capita, years of schooling, and total fertility rate. Additionally, we calculated differences between male and female YLDs to identify divergent trends across sexes. GBD 2017 complies with the Guidelines for Accurate and Transparent Health Estimates Reporting.

FINDINGS

Globally, for females, the causes with the greatest age-standardised prevalence were oral disorders, headache disorders, and haemoglobinopathies and haemolytic anaemias in both 1990 and 2017. For males, the causes with the greatest age-standardised prevalence were oral disorders, headache disorders, and tuberculosis including latent tuberculosis infection in both 1990 and 2017. In terms of YLDs, low back pain, headache disorders, and dietary iron deficiency were the leading Level 3 causes of YLD counts in 1990, whereas low back pain, headache disorders, and depressive disorders were the leading causes in 2017 for both sexes combined. All-cause age-standardised YLD rates decreased by 3·9% (95% uncertainty interval [UI] 3·1-4·6) from 1990 to 2017; however, the all-age YLD rate increased by 7·2% (6·0-8·4) while the total sum of global YLDs increased from 562 million (421-723) to 853 million (642-1100). The increases for males and females were similar, with increases in all-age YLD rates of 7·9% (6·6-9·2) for males and 6·5% (5·4-7·7) for females. We found significant differences between males and females in terms of age-standardised prevalence estimates for multiple causes. The causes with the greatest relative differences between sexes in 2017 included substance use disorders (3018 cases [95% UI 2782-3252] per 100 000 in males vs s1400 [1279-1524] per 100 000 in females), transport injuries (3322 [3082-3583] vs 2336 [2154-2535]), and self-harm and interpersonal violence (3265 [2943-3630] vs 5643 [5057-6302]).

INTERPRETATION

Global all-cause age-standardised YLD rates have improved only slightly over a period spanning nearly three decades. However, the magnitude of the non-fatal disease burden has expanded globally, with increasing numbers of people who have a wide spectrum of conditions. A subset of conditions has remained globally pervasive since 1990, whereas other conditions have displayed more dynamic trends, with different ages, sexes, and geographies across the globe experiencing varying burdens and trends of health loss. This study emphasises how global improvements in premature mortality for select conditions have led to older populations with complex and potentially expensive diseases, yet also highlights global achievements in certain domains of disease and injury.

FUNDING

Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Global, regional, and national incidence, prevalence, and years lived with disability for 354 diseases and injuries for 195 countries and territories, 1990-2017: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017

BACKGROUND

The Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study 2017 (GBD 2017) includes a comprehensive assessment of incidence, prevalence, and years lived with disability (YLDs) for 354 causes in 195 countries and territories from 1990 to 2017. Previous GBD studies have shown how the decline of mortality rates from 1990 to 2016 has led to an increase in life expectancy, an ageing global population, and an expansion of the non-fatal burden of disease and injury. These studies have also shown how a substantial portion of the world's population experiences non-fatal health loss with considerable heterogeneity among different causes, locations, ages, and sexes. Ongoing objectives of the GBD study include increasing the level of estimation detail, improving analytical strategies, and increasing the amount of high-quality data.

METHODS

We estimated incidence and prevalence for 354 diseases and injuries and 3484 sequelae. We used an updated and extensive body of literature studies, survey data, surveillance data, inpatient admission records, outpatient visit records, and health insurance claims, and additionally used results from cause of death models to inform estimates using a total of 68 781 data sources. Newly available clinical data from India, Iran, Japan, Jordan, Nepal, China, Brazil, Norway, and Italy were incorporated, as well as updated claims data from the USA and new claims data from Taiwan (province of China) and Singapore. We used DisMod-MR 2.1, a Bayesian meta-regression tool, as the main method of estimation, ensuring consistency between rates of incidence, prevalence, remission, and cause of death for each condition. YLDs were estimated as the product of a prevalence estimate and a disability weight for health states of each mutually exclusive sequela, adjusted for comorbidity. We updated the Socio-demographic Index (SDI), a summary development indicator of income per capita, years of schooling, and total fertility rate. Additionally, we calculated differences between male and female YLDs to identify divergent trends across sexes. GBD 2017 complies with the Guidelines for Accurate and Transparent Health Estimates Reporting.

FINDINGS

Globally, for females, the causes with the greatest age-standardised prevalence were oral disorders, headache disorders, and haemoglobinopathies and haemolytic anaemias in both 1990 and 2017. For males, the causes with the greatest age-standardised prevalence were oral disorders, headache disorders, and tuberculosis including latent tuberculosis infection in both 1990 and 2017. In terms of YLDs, low back pain, headache disorders, and dietary iron deficiency were the leading Level 3 causes of YLD counts in 1990, whereas low back pain, headache disorders, and depressive disorders were the leading causes in 2017 for both sexes combined. All-cause age-standardised YLD rates decreased by 3·9% (95% uncertainty interval [UI] 3·1-4·6) from 1990 to 2017; however, the all-age YLD rate increased by 7·2% (6·0-8·4) while the total sum of global YLDs increased from 562 million (421-723) to 853 million (642-1100). The increases for males and females were similar, with increases in all-age YLD rates of 7·9% (6·6-9·2) for males and 6·5% (5·4-7·7) for females. We found significant differences between males and females in terms of age-standardised prevalence estimates for multiple causes. The causes with the greatest relative differences between sexes in 2017 included substance use disorders (3018 cases [95% UI 2782-3252] per 100 000 in males vs s1400 [1279-1524] per 100 000 in females), transport injuries (3322 [3082-3583] vs 2336 [2154-2535]), and self-harm and interpersonal violence (3265 [2943-3630] vs 5643 [5057-6302]).

INTERPRETATION

Global all-cause age-standardised YLD rates have improved only slightly over a period spanning nearly three decades. However, the magnitude of the non-fatal disease burden has expanded globally, with increasing numbers of people who have a wide spectrum of conditions. A subset of conditions has remained globally pervasive since 1990, whereas other conditions have displayed more dynamic trends, with different ages, sexes, and geographies across the globe experiencing varying burdens and trends of health loss. This study emphasises how global improvements in premature mortality for select conditions have led to older populations with complex and potentially expensive diseases, yet also highlights global achievements in certain domains of disease and injury.

FUNDING

Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Influenza vaccine for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)

BACKGROUND

Influenza vaccinations are currently recommended in the care of people with COPD, but these recommendations are based largely on evidence from observational studies, with very few randomised controlled trials (RCTs) reported. Influenza infection causes excess morbidity and mortality in people with COPD, but there is also the potential for influenza vaccination to cause adverse effects, or not to be cost effective.

OBJECTIVES

To determine whether influenza vaccination in people with COPD reduces respiratory illness, reduces mortality, is associated with excess adverse events, and is cost effective.

SEARCH METHODS

We searched the Cochrane Airways Trials Register, two clinical trials registries, and reference lists of articles. A number of drug companies we contacted also provided references. The latest search was carried out in December 2017.

SELECTION CRITERIA

RCTs that compared live or inactivated virus vaccines with placebo, either alone or with another vaccine, in people with COPD.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

Two review authors independently extracted data. All entries were double-checked. We contacted study authors and drug companies for missing information. We used standard methods expected by Cochrane.

MAIN RESULTS

We included 11 RCTs with 6750 participants, but only six of these included people with COPD (2469 participants). The others were conducted on elderly and high-risk individuals, some of whom had chronic lung disease. Interventions compared with placebo were inactivated virus injections and live attenuated intranasal virus vaccines. Some studies compared intra-muscular inactivated vaccine and intranasal live attenuated vaccine with intra-muscular inactivated vaccine and intranasal placebo. Studies were conducted in the UK, USA and Thailand.Inactivated vaccine reduced the total number of exacerbations per vaccinated participant compared with those who received placebo (mean difference (MD) -0.37, 95% confidence interval (CI) -0.64 to -0.11; P = 0.006; two RCTs, 180 participants; low quality evidence). This was due to the reduction in 'late' exacerbations, occurring after three or four weeks (MD -0.39, 95% CI -0.61 to -0.18; P = 0.0004; two RCTs, 180 participants; low quality evidence). Both in people with COPD, and in older people (only a minority of whom had COPD), there were significantly more local adverse reactions in people who had received the vaccine, but the effects were generally mild and transient.There was no evidence of an effect of intranasal live attenuated virus when this was added to inactivated intramuscular vaccination.Two studies evaluating mortality for influenza vaccine versus placebo were too small to have detected any effect on mortality. However, a large study (N=2215) noted that there was no difference in mortality when adding live attenuated virus to inactivated virus vaccination, AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: It appeared, from the limited number of RCTs we were able to include, all of which were more than a decade old, that inactivated vaccine reduced exacerbations in people with COPD. The size of effect was similar to that seen in large observational studies, and was due to a reduction in exacerbations occurring three or more weeks after vaccination, and due to influenza. There was a mild increase in transient local adverse effects with vaccination, but no evidence of an increase in early exacerbations. Addition of live attenuated virus to the inactivated vaccine was not shown to confer additional benefit.

Vaccines for preventing influenza in the elderly

BACKGROUND

The consequences of influenza in the elderly (those age 65 years or older) are complications, hospitalisations, and death. The primary goal of influenza vaccination in the elderly is to reduce the risk of death among people who are most vulnerable. This is an update of a review published in 2010. Future updates of this review will be made only when new trials or vaccines become available. Observational data included in previous versions of the review have been retained for historical reasons but have not been updated because of their lack of influence on the review conclusions.

OBJECTIVES

To assess the effects (efficacy, effectiveness, and harm) of vaccines against influenza in the elderly.

SEARCH METHODS

We searched the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) (the Cochrane Library 2016, Issue 11), which includes the Cochrane Acute Respiratory Infections Group's Specialised Register; MEDLINE (1966 to 31 December 2016); Embase (1974 to 31 December 2016); Web of Science (1974 to 31 December 2016); CINAHL (1981 to 31 December 2016); LILACS (1982 to 31 December 2016); WHO International Clinical Trials Registry Platform (ICTRP; 1 July 2017); and ClinicalTrials.gov (1 July 2017).

SELECTION CRITERIA

Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and quasi-RCTs assessing efficacy against influenza (laboratory-confirmed cases) or effectiveness against influenza-like illness (ILI) or safety. We considered any influenza vaccine given independently, in any dose, preparation, or time schedule, compared with placebo or with no intervention. Previous versions of this review included 67 cohort and case-control studies. The searches for these trial designs are no longer updated.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

Review authors independently assessed risk of bias and extracted data. We rated the certainty of evidence with GRADE for the key outcomes of influenza, ILI, complications (hospitalisation, pneumonia), and adverse events. We have presented aggregate control group risks to illustrate the effect in absolute terms. We used them as the basis for calculating the number needed to vaccinate to prevent one case of each event for influenza and ILI outcomes.

MAIN RESULTS

We identified eight RCTs (over 5000 participants), of which four assessed harms. The studies were conducted in community and residential care settings in Europe and the USA between 1965 and 2000. Risk of bias reduced our certainty in the findings for influenza and ILI, but not for other outcomes.Older adults receiving the influenza vaccine may experience less influenza over a single season compared with placebo, from 6% to 2.4% (risk ratio (RR) 0.42, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.27 to 0.66; low-certainty evidence). We rated the evidence as low certainty due to uncertainty over how influenza was diagnosed. Older adults probably experience less ILI compared with those who do not receive a vaccination over the course of a single influenza season (3.5% versus 6%; RR 0.59, 95% CI 0.47 to 0.73; moderate-certainty evidence). These results indicate that 30 people would need to be vaccinated to prevent one person experiencing influenza, and 42 would need to be vaccinated to prevent one person having an ILI.The study providing data for mortality and pneumonia was underpowered to detect differences in these outcomes. There were 3 deaths from 522 participants in the vaccination arm and 1 death from 177 participants in the placebo arm, providing very low-certainty evidence for the effect on mortality (RR 1.02, 95% CI 0.11 to 9.72). No cases of pneumonia occurred in one study that reported this outcome (very low-certainty evidence). No data on hospitalisations were reported. Confidence intervaIs around the effect of vaccines on fever and nausea were wide, and we do not have enough information about these harms in older people (fever: 1.6% with placebo compared with 2.5% after vaccination (RR 1.57, 0.92 to 2.71; moderate-certainty evidence)); nausea (2.4% with placebo compared with 4.2% after vaccination (RR 1.75, 95% CI 0.74 to 4.12; low-certainty evidence)).

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS

Older adults receiving the influenza vaccine may have a lower risk of influenza (from 6% to 2.4%), and probably have a lower risk of ILI compared with those who do not receive a vaccination over the course of a single influenza season (from 6% to 3.5%). We are uncertain how big a difference these vaccines will make across different seasons. Very few deaths occurred, and no data on hospitalisation were reported. No cases of pneumonia occurred in one study that reported this outcome. We do not have enough information to assess harms relating to fever and nausea in this population.The evidence for a lower risk of influenza and ILI with vaccination is limited by biases in the design or conduct of the studies. Lack of detail regarding the methods used to confirm the diagnosis of influenza limits the applicability of this result. The available evidence relating to complications is of poor quality, insufficient, or old and provides no clear guidance for public health regarding the safety, efficacy, or effectiveness of influenza vaccines for people aged 65 years or older. Society should invest in research on a new generation of influenza vaccines for the elderly.

A Snapshot of Chronic Obstructive Airways Disease in Australian Emergency Departments

Objectives

To characterise emergency department (ED) attendances for chronic obstructive airways disease (COAD) by patient demographics and severity, to determine treatment and disposition of patients and to determine use of diagnostic tests and treatment provided to different severity groups. A secondary aim was to compare treatment given to established treatment guidelines.

Methods

Prospective, observational cohort study of patients who presented to nine Australian ED with a primary diagnosis of acute exacerbation of COAD in October 2002. Information collected included demographics, duration of symptoms, co-morbidities, assessment findings, severity, treatment, disposition, tests, in-hospital mortality and length of stay.

Results

A total of 137 patients were studied. Two-thirds (65%) of the group were male, and most (90%) were aged greater than 60 years. COAD severity was mild in 11%, moderate in 30% and severe in 59%, and 23% were receiving home oxygen therapy. As anticipated, patients with severe COAD were more likely to be admitted to hospital (mild: moderate: severe = 13%: 68%: 99%; p<0.0001) and to require ventilatory support (0%: 0%: 23%; p<0.002). There was under-utilisation of corticosteroids and antibiotics in the moderate and severe groups, and only 35% of the group had received influenza vaccination within the past year.

Conclusion

This study showed that adherence to best practice guidelines with respect to the use of corticosteroids and antibiotics for patients who presented to the ED with COAD was sub-optimal, as was the prevalence of prior influenza vaccination. Other aspects of treatment and investigation were consistent with available evidence. Efforts to address these deficiencies should be developed.

Seasonal influenza vaccination in patients with COPD: a systematic literature review

BACKGROUND

Influenza is a frequent cause of exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Exacerbations are associated with worsening of the airflow obstruction, hospitalisation, reduced quality of life, disease progression, death, and ultimately, substantial healthcare-related costs. Despite longstanding recommendations to vaccinate vulnerable high-risk groups against seasonal influenza, including patients with COPD, vaccination rates remain sub-optimal in this population.

METHODS

We conducted a systematic review to summarise current evidence from randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and observational studies on the immunogenicity, safety, efficacy, and effectiveness of seasonal influenza vaccination in patients with COPD. The selection of relevant articles was based on a three-step selection procedure according to predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. The search yielded 650 unique hits of which 48 eligible articles were screened in full-text.

RESULTS

Seventeen articles describing 13 different studies were found to be pertinent to this review. Results of four RCTs and one observational study demonstrate that seasonal influenza vaccination is immunogenic in patients with COPD. Two studies assessed the occurrence of COPD exacerbations 14 days after influenza vaccination and found no evidence of an increased risk of exacerbation. Three RCTs showed no significant difference in the occurrence of systemic effects between groups receiving influenza vaccine or placebo. Six out of seven studies on vaccine efficacy or effectiveness indicated long-term benefits of seasonal influenza vaccination, such as reduced number of exacerbations, reduced hospitalisations and outpatient visits, and decreased all-cause and respiratory mortality.

CONCLUSIONS

Additional large and well-designed observational studies would contribute to understanding the impact of disease severity and patient characteristics on the response to influenza vaccination. Overall, the evidence supports a positive benefit-risk ratio for seasonal influenza vaccination in patients with COPD, and supports current vaccination recommendations in this population.

Use of biologics to treat acute exacerbations and manage disease in asthma, COPD and IPF

A common feature of chronic respiratory disease is the progressive decline in lung function. The decline can be indolent, or it can be accelerated by acute exacerbations, whereby the patient experiences a pronounced worsening of disease symptoms. Moreover, acute exacerbations may also be a marker of insufficient disease management. The underlying cause of an acute exacerbation can be due to insults such as pathogens or environmental pollutants, or the cause can be unknown. For each acute exacerbation, the patient may require medical intervention such as rescue medication, or in more severe cases, hospitalization and ventilation and have an increased risk of death. Biologics, such as monoclonal antibodies, are being developed for chronic respiratory diseases including asthma, COPD and IPF. This therapeutic approach is particularly well suited for chronic use based on the route and frequency of delivery and importantly, the potential for disease modification. In recent clinical trials, the frequency of acute exacerbation has often been included as an endpoint, to help determine whether the investigational agent is impacting disease. Therefore the significance of acute exacerbations in driving disease, and their potential as a marker of disease activity and progression, has recently received much attention. There is also now a need to standardize the definition of an acute exacerbation in specific disease settings, particularly as this endpoint is increasingly used in clinical trials to also assess therapeutic efficacy. Moreover, specifically targeting exacerbations may offer a new therapeutic approach for several chronic respiratory diseases.

Racial/Ethnic Disparities in Influenza Vaccination of Chronically Ill US Adults: The Mediating Role of Perceived Discrimination in Health Care

BACKGROUND

Despite well-established programs, influenza vaccination rates in US adults are well below federal benchmarks and exhibit well-documented, persistent racial and ethnic disparities. The causes of these disparities are multifactorial and complex, though perceived racial/ethnic discrimination in health care is 1 hypothesized mechanism.

OBJECTIVES

To assess the role of perceived discrimination in health care in mediating influenza vaccination RACIAL/ETHNIC disparities in chronically ill US adults (at high risk for influenza-related complications).

RESEARCH DESIGN

We utilized 2011-2012 data from the Aligning Forces for Quality Consumer Survey on health and health care (n=8127), nationally representative of chronically ill US adults. Logistic regression marginal effects examined the relationship between race/ethnicity and influenza vaccination, both unadjusted and in multivariate models adjusted for determinants of health service use. We then used binary mediation analysis to calculate and test the significance of the percentage of this relationship mediated by perceived discrimination in health care.

RESULTS

Respondents reporting perceived discrimination in health care had half the uptake as those without discrimination (32% vs. 60%, P=0.009). The change in predicted probability of vaccination given perceived discrimination experiences (vs. none) was large but not significant in the fully adjusted model (-0.185; 95% CI, -0.385, 0.014). Perceived discrimination significantly mediated 16% of the unadjusted association between race/ethnicity and influenza vaccination, though this dropped to 6% and lost statistical significance in multivariate models.

CONCLUSIONS

The causes of persistent racial/ethnic disparities are complex and a single explanation is unlikely to be sufficient. We suggest reevaluation in a larger cohort as well as potential directions for future research.

Seasonal influenza vaccination of high-risk adults

INTRODUCTION

Adults at a high risk of severe influenza, because of their age and/or underlying health disorders, should receive seasonal influenza vaccination in order to reduce the incidence of severe illness and premature death. However, because current influenza vaccines are perceived to have suboptimal efficacy, vaccine coverage is below the recommended level in this population. Areas covered: This review examines, for each high-risk group, available data on influenza infection, vaccine efficacy and safety, and vaccine coverage. We conducted a literature search in the PubMed database to identify randomized controlled trials, observational studies and reviews published from 2000 through 2015 on both seasonal and pandemic influenza. Only studies published in English were considered. While the topic of this review is seasonal influenza, data on pandemics are included when relevant. Expert Commentary: Current seasonal influenza vaccines are only moderately protective, and vaccines eliciting broader and more durable immunity are therefore needed. Research on the use of higher doses, adjuvants, and a universal influenza vaccine is ongoing. Influenza vaccine coverage needs to be increased. Vaccination of contacts of high-risk individuals, including healthcare workers, should be encouraged.

Influenza vaccination for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: understanding immunogenicity, efficacy and effectiveness

Influenza infection is an important cause of global mortality and morbidity with the greatest impact on older people and those with chronic disease. Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are particularly vulnerable to influenza, with evidence for increased incidence and severity of infection. In this patient group influenza is associated with exacerbations and pneumonia which result in a significant healthcare burden and premature mortality. Influenza vaccination and in particular the use of the seasonal trivalent influenza vaccine (TIV) is recommended for patients with COPD. The evidence base for its effects in this population is, however, limited. Available data suggest that immunogenicity is variable in COPD but the underlying mechanisms are not completely understood. The contribution of age, disease severity, comorbidity and treatments to vaccine responses has only been investigated in a limited manner. Existing data suggest that key immune mechanisms governing T- and B-cell responses are adversely affected by these factors. The efficacy of TIV has been studied in a number of small clinical trials which form the basis of a Cochrane review. Here evidence for effect is conflicting depending on individual trial design and inclusions. Overall, TIV offers protection against influenza infection in the trial setting but further studies are required to stratify patients and enable prediction of inadequate responses. Larger-scale clinical studies have largely been observational and have often been conducted in consort with pneumonia vaccination. Overall the mortality benefit of TIV in COPD is suggested by a number studies but the impact on exacerbation prevention is less clear. Influenza vaccination currently plays an important role in disease prevention in COPD. However, we postulate that a more in-depth understanding of mechanisms of response in the context of a highly heterogeneous disease will lead to a more informed approach to vaccination and greater benefit for the individual patient.

Self-reported influenza vaccination and protective serum antibody titers in a cohort of COPD patients

BACKGROUND

COPD patients are advised vaccination against seasonal influenza, yet few studies have evaluated the protective antibody titers obtained in this patient group.

AIMS

1) To describe protective titers in COPD patients who self-reported influenza vaccination compared with vaccinated subjects without COPD and unvaccinated COPD patients, 2) analyze whether clinical parameters predicted influenza-specific antibody titers, and 3) whether antibody titers to influenza A at baseline could predict exacerbation risk or 5 years all-cause mortality.

METHODS

Influenza A (H1N1 and H3N2) titers were measured by haemagglutination inhibition assay in serum from 432 COPD patients and 77 controls in the Bergen COPD Cohort Study, at yearly visits between 2006/09. Titers of 40 or above were considered protective. We examined the variables sex, age, body composition, smoking, GOLD stage, yearly exacerbations, inhaled steroids, and Charlson score as predictive of titers, both univariately and in a multivariable model estimated by generalized estimating equations. The exacerbation incidence rate ratios and mortality hazard ratios were assessed by negative binominal and cox regression models respectively.

RESULTS

At baseline, 59% of COPD patients reported influenza vaccination during the last season. Levels of predictive titers varied considerably each season, but trended lower in COPD patients compared with controls. Neither sex, age, body composition, smoking, comorbidities, GOLD stage nor use of inhaled steroids consistently predicted titers. Having high titers at baseline did not impact later risk for exacerbations, but seemed to be associated with higher all-cause mortality, even after adjustment for COPD disease characteristics.

CONCLUSION

Vaccination coverage for influenza is imperfect for COPD patients in Norway, and there is a concern that immunization is suboptimal.

Outcomes associated with acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder requiring hospitalization

BACKGROUND

Acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (AECOPD) are known to be associated with increased morbidity and mortality and have a significant socioeconomic impact. The factors that determine frequent hospital readmissions for AECOPD are poorly understood. The present study was done to ascertain failures rates following AECOPD and to evaluate factors associated with frequent readmissions.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We conducted a prospective study among 186 patients with COPD with one or more admissions for acute exacerbations in a tertiary care hospital. Frequency of previous re-admissions for AECOPD in the past year, and clinical characteristics, including spirometry were ascertained in the stable state both before discharge and at 6-month post-discharge. Failure rates following treatment were ascertained during the follow-up period. All the patients were followed up for a period of 2 years after discharge to evaluate re-admissions for the AECOPD.

RESULTS

Of 186 COPD patients admitted for AECOPD, 54% had one or more readmission, and another 45% had two or more readmissions over a period of 2 years. There was a high prevalence of current or ex-heavy smokers, associated co-morbidity, underweight patients, low vaccination prevalence and use of domiciliary oxygen therapy among COPD patients. A total of 12% mortality was observed in the present study. Immediate failure rates after first exacerbation was observed to be 34.8%. Multivariate analysis showed that duration >20 years (OR = 0.37; 95% CI: 0.10-0.86), use of Tiotropium (OR = 2.29; 95% CI: 1.12-4.69) and use of co-amoxiclav during first admission (OR = 2.41; 95% CI: 1.21-4.79) were significantly associated with higher immediate failure rates. The multivariate analysis for repeated admissions revealed that disease duration >10 years (OR = 0.50; 95% CI: 0.27-0.93), low usage of inhaled ICS + LABA (OR = 2.21; 95% CI: 1.08-4.54), and MRC dyspnea grade >3 (OR = 2.51; 95% CI: 1.08-5.82) were independently associated with frequent re-admissions for AECOPD.

CONCLUSIONS

The outcomes of patients admitted for an acute exacerbation of COPD were poor. The major factors influencing frequency of repeated COPD exacerbations were disease duration, low usage of inhaled ICS + LABA, and MRC dyspnea grade >3.

Prevalence of Influenza Vaccination in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Patients and Impact on the Risk of Severe Exacerbations

OBJECTIVE

To determine the prevalence of influenza vaccination in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients, and the effectiveness of the procedure.

METHODS

Retrospective population-based cohort study. On 31 December 2011, influenza vaccination history was retrieved from 899 patients with confirmed COPD selected by simple random sampling from all COPD patients in Cantabria (northern Spain). Severe exacerbations (hospitalization due to COPD exacerbation) and overall mortality during 2012 were treated as dependent variables. Odds ratios (OR) were estimated by logistic regression, adjusting for age, sex, smoking status, severity of COPD, and frequency of exacerbations during the previous year. Prevented fraction among the exposed (PFe-adjusted) was determined as a measure of impact.

RESULTS

Overall prevalence of influenza vaccination was 62.7%, but this rate fell in patients classified as more severe according to FEV1 (52.0%). Influenza vaccination showed a statistically significant protective effect against severe exacerbations in the following year: Ora: 0.54 (95%CI: 0.35-0.84); FPe-adjusted: 0.46 (95%CI: 0.16-0.65). A non-significant protective effect for overall mortality was observed: Ora: 0.76 (95%CI: 0.41-1.40). When stratified according to COPD severity (FEV1), the protective effect against risk of hospitalization was higher in more severe COPD patients: Ora: 0.23 (95%CI: 0.11-0.48); FPe-adjusted: 0.77 (95%CI: 0.52-0.89).

CONCLUSIONS

We found that influenza vaccination has a protective effect and reduces the risk of hospitalization due to exacerbations in the following year. Despite the evidence for protection, prevalence of vaccination was not optimal, especially in more severe COPD patients.

Prevention of COPD exacerbations: medications and other controversies

Exacerbations have significant impact on the morbidity and mortality of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Most guidelines emphasise prevention of exacerbations by treatment with long-acting bronchodilators and/or anti-inflammatory drugs. Whereas most of this treatment is evidence-based, it is clear that patients differ regarding the nature of exacerbations and are likely to benefit differently from different types of treatment. In this short review, we wish to highlight this, suggest a first step in differentiating pharmacological exacerbation prevention and call for more studies in this area. Finally, we wish to highlight that there are perhaps easier ways of achieving similar success in exacerbation prevention using nonpharmacological tools.

Attitudes and Practices Regarding Influenza Vaccination Among Healthcare Workers Providing Services to Individuals With Spinal Cord Injuries and Disorders

Objective:

To examine influenza vaccination status and predictors for vaccine receipt among healthcare workers (HCWs) caring for patients with spinal cord injuries and disorders.

Design:

Cross-sectional, nationwide anonymous survey.

Setting:

Twenty-three Veterans Affairs spinal cord injury centers.

Participants:

One thousand five hundred fifty-six HCWs.

Methods:

The primary outcome was staff vaccination status. Independent variables included staff demographic and employment characteristics, health status, attitudes and beliefs about the vaccine, and implications for its use.

Results:

The staff vaccination rate was 51%. Leading motivators of vaccine receipt were self-protection (77%) and patient protection (49%). The most common reasons for nonreceipt were concerns about side effects (49%), preventive quality (20%), and inconvenience (14%). Logistic regression results suggested that age of 50 years or older (OR, 1.47; P = .021), male gender (OR, 2.50; P < .001), strong belief in vaccine effectiveness (OR, 19.03; P = .008), and importance of HCW vaccination (OR, 20.50; P = .005) significantly increased the probability of vaccination. Recommending the vaccine to coworkers, patients, or patients' families was also associated with HCW vaccination (OR, 3.20; P < .001). Providers who did not believe the vaccine was protective (P < .001) or effective P < .001) were less likely to recommend it to patients.

Conclusions:

Strategies to increase vaccination rates among HCWs should address concerns about side effects, effectiveness, and protective value of the vaccine and access to it. The impact of provider recommendations should be stressed. Vaccination and subsequent prevention of illness may limit morbidity and mortality, thus benefiting HCWs, healthcare facilities, and patients.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease exacerbations: latest evidence and clinical implications

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide and results in an economic and social burden that is both substantial and increasing. The natural history of COPD is punctuated by exacerbations which have major short- and long-term implications on the patient and healthcare system. Evidence-based guidelines stipulate that early detection and prompt treatment of exacerbations are essential to ensure optimal outcomes and to reduce the burden of COPD. Several factors can identify populations at risk of exacerbations. Implementing prevention measures in patients at risk is a major goal in the management of COPD.

Should mild COPD be treated? Evidence for early pharmacological intervention

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a common and often progressive inflammatory disease of the airways that is both preventable and treatable. It is well established that those with mild-to-moderate disease severity represent the majority of patients with COPD, yet this subpopulation is relatively under-studied. Because of an insidious pre-clinical phase, COPD is both under-diagnosed and under-treated. Recent studies have confirmed that even patients with mild, grade 1 COPD [i.e. those with a reduced forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1)/forced vital capacity ratio but normal FEV1], have measurable physiological impairment with increased morbidity and a higher risk of mortality compared with non-smoking healthy controls. Beyond the imperative of smoking cessation-the pivotal intervention in all COPD stages-the role of pharmacotherapy for prevention of disease progression has yet to be established. The main objective of this review is to provide a concise overview of the heterogeneous pathophysiology of COPD with only mild airway obstruction on spirometry and obstacles for early diagnosis. We emphasize that the absence of sufficiently powered trials involving a large number of patients precludes definitive recommendations in support of (or against) long-term pharmacological treatment in mild COPD. Despite these limitations, we present a rationale for earlier pharmacological intervention derived from recent physiological studies performed in symptomatic patients with mild COPD.

The pharmacological approach to the elderly COPD patient

The elderly patient (65 years and older) with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) can be a challenge to the clinician. This begins with the correct and early diagnosis, the assessment of disease severity, recognizing complicating comorbidities, determining the burden of symptoms, and monitoring the frequency of acute exacerbations. Comprehensive management of COPD in the elderly patient should improve health-related quality of life, lung function, reduce exacerbations, and promote patient compliance with treatment plans. Only smoking cessation and oxygen therapy in COPD patients with hypoxemia reduce mortality. Bronchodilators, corticosteroids, methylxanthines, phosphodiesterase-4 inhibitors, macrolide antibiotics, mucolytics, and pulmonary rehabilitation improve some outcome measures such as spirometry measures and the frequency of COPD exacerbations without improving mortality. International treatment guidelines to reduce symptoms and reduce the risk of acute exacerbations exist. Relief of dyspnea and control of anxiety are important. The approach to each patient is best individualized. Earlier use of palliative care should be considered when traditional pharmacotherapy fails to achieve outcome measures and before consideration of end-of-life issues.

Collaborative self-management and behavioral change

Behavioral change is critical for improving health outcomes in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. An educational approach alone is insufficient; changes in behavior, especially the acquisition of self-care skills, are also required. There is mounting evidence that embedding collaborative self-management (CSM) within existing health care systems provides an effective model to meet these needs. CSM should be integrated with pulmonary rehabilitation programs, one of the main goals of which is to induce long-term changes in behavior. More research is needed to evaluate the effectiveness of assimilating CSM into primary care, patient-centered medical homes, and palliative care teams.

Accuracy of diagnosis and classification of COPD in primary and specialist nurse-led respiratory care in Rotherham, UK: a cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

Studies have suggested that chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is commonly misdiagnosed and misclassified in primary care, but less is known about the quality of diagnosis in specialist respiratory care.

AIMS

To measure the accuracy of COPD diagnosis and classification of airway obstruction in primary care and at a specialist respiratory centre, and to explore associations between misdiagnosis and misclassification and a range of explanatory factors.

METHODS

Data were obtained for 1,205 referrals to a specialist respiratory centre between 2007 and 2010. Standard analysis methods were used.

RESULTS

The majority of patients were referred for pulmonary rehabilitation (676/1,205, 56%). Of 1,044 patients with a primary care diagnosis of COPD, 211 (20%) had spirometry inconsistent with COPD. In comparison, of 993 specialist centre diagnoses, 65 (6.5%) had inconsistent spirometry. There was poor agreement between the airflow obstruction grade recorded on the referral and that based on spirometry (kappa=0.26, n=448), whereas agreement between the respiratory centre assessment of airflow obstruction and spirometry was good (kappa=0.88, n=1,016). Referral by practice nurse was associated with accuracy of airflow obstruction classification in primary care (OR 1.85, 95% CI 1.33 to 2.57). Males were more likely than females to have an accurate specialist care classification of airway obstruction (OR 1.40, 95% CI 1.01 to 1.93). Grade of airway obstruction changed between referral and assessment in 56% of cases.

CONCLUSIONS

In primary care, a proportion of patients diagnosed with COPD do not have COPD, and misclassification of grade of airflow obstruction is common. Misdiagnosis and misclassification is less common in the specialist care setting of BreathingSpace.