Effectiveness of MF59™-adjuvanted subunit influenza vaccine in preventing hospitalisations for cardiovascular disease, cerebrovascular disease and pneumonia in the elderly

• Published in: Vaccine 2007-10, Vol.25 (42), p.7313-7321
• Main Authors: Puig-Barberà, Joan, Díez-Domingo, Javier, Varea, Ángel Belenguer, Chavarri, Germán Schwarz, Rodrigo, José A. Lluch, Hoyos, Santiago Pérez, Vidal, David González
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adjuvants, Immunologic - administration & dosage; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Allergy and Immunology; Applied microbiology; Biological and medical sciences; Cardiovascular diseases; Cardiovascular Diseases - epidemiology; Cardiovascular Diseases - prevention & control; Case-Control Studies; Cerebrovascular disorders; Cerebrovascular Disorders - epidemiology; Cerebrovascular Disorders - prevention & control; Elderly; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Heart attacks; Hospitalization; Hospitals; Humans; Influenza; Influenza Vaccines - administration & dosage; Influenza virus; Mass Vaccination - statistics & numerical data; MF59™-adjuvanted subunit influenza vaccine; Microbiology; Mortality; Older people; Pneumonia; Pneumonia - epidemiology; Pneumonia - prevention & control; Polysorbates - administration & dosage; Risk Factors; Spain - epidemiology; Squalene - administration & dosage; Studies; Vaccines; Vaccines, antisera, therapeutical immunoglobulins and monoclonal antibodies (general aspects); Vaccines, Subunit - administration & dosage
• ISSN: 0264-410X; 1873-2518
• DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2007.08.039

Abstract Annual circulation of influenza virus coincides with a peak in cardiovascular and pneumonia mortality/morbidity. This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of MF59™-adjuvanted subunit influenza vaccine in preventing hospitalisation due to acute coronary syndrome (ACS), cerebrovascular accident (CVA) and pneumonia in the elderly. Three case–control studies were performed during the 2004–2005 influenza season in three health districts in Valencia, Spain (total elderly [>64 years of age] population: n = 105,454). Controls were patients admitted for an acute surgical process or trauma within 10 days of case admission. In total, 159 patients were hospitalised for ACS, 148 for CVA and 242 for pneumonia. The risk of hospitalisation after the start of the influenza season was significantly lower in vaccinated patients compared with non-vaccinated patients (adjusted odds ratios: 0.13 [ P = 0.013] for ACS; 0.07 [ P = 0.007] for CVA; 0.31 [ P = 0.005] for pneumonia). During peak virus circulation, vaccination with MF59™-adjuvanted subunit influenza vaccine was associated with an 87% relative risk reduction in hospitalisation for ACS, 93% for CVA, and 69% for pneumonia.