Factors influencing the uptake of influenza vaccination in African American patients with heart failure: Findings from a large urban public hospital

• Published in: Heart & lung 2020-05, Vol.49 (3), p.233-237
• Main Authors: Olanipekun, Titilope, Effoe, Valery S., Olanipekun, Olalekan, Igbinomwanhia, Efehi, Kola-Kehinde, Onaopepo, Fotzeu, Claudia, Bakinde, Nicolas, Harris, Rachael
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; African Americans; Female; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Heart Failure; Hospitalization; Hospitals, Public; Humans; Influenza; Influenza Vaccines; Influenza, Human - prevention & control; Male; Middle Aged; Recommendation; Surveys and Questionnaires; Uptake; Vaccination
• ISSN: 0147-9563; 1527-3288
• DOI: 10.1016/j.hrtlng.2019.12.003

•Influenza infection has been linked to increased risk of hospitalizations, more severe disease course and increased risk of mortality in patients with heart failure.•African Americans have a disproportionately heart failure related health care burden and lower rates of influenza vaccination compared to other ethnic groups.•We found a suboptimal influenza vaccination rate among African American patients with heart failure in our institution during the 2017–2018 flu season.•Patients who received flu vaccine information and direct recommendation from their cardiologists and other physicians during outpatient visits were significantly more likely to accept flu vaccination.•Major reasons for declining vaccination included fear of getting sick from influenza vaccine and distrust of the pharmaceutical companies that produce vaccines. Evidence suggests that annual influenza vaccination may prevent acute heart failure exacerbation episodes and improve survival. Determine the influenza vaccination rate among African American patients with heart failure and identify predictors of uptake. African American patients with heart failure were recruited at Grady Memorial Hospital, Atlanta GA between October 1, 2017 and April 28, 2018 (N = 281). All participants completed a questionnaire. Mean age of the sample was 50.5 ± 11.5 years (58% male). The influenza vaccination rate among the patients was 46% (n = 129/281). Patients who received vaccination information and recommendation from their physician, especially cardiologists, were significantly more likely to be vaccinated than those who did not (P