Impact of influenza vaccination on hospitalised patients in South America

• Published in: The Lancet infectious diseases Vol. 23; no. 2; pp. 136 - 138
• Main Authors: Gamiño-Arroyo, Ana Estela, Del Carmen Guerra de Blas, Paola
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Ltd 01.02.2023; Elsevier Limited
• Subjects: Adults; Asthma; Bias; Cardiovascular diseases; Children; Collaboration; Complications; Death; Diabetes; Diabetes mellitus; Disease control; Health risks; Heart diseases; Hospitalization; Hospitals; Humans; Illnesses; Immunization; Infectious diseases; Influenza; Influenza Vaccines; Influenza, Human - prevention & control; Mortality; Older people; Patients; Poverty; Risk; Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; Socioeconomics; South America - epidemiology; Vaccination; Vaccines; Viruses; Womens health; South America; United States > US
• ISSN: 1473-3099; 1474-4457
• DOI: 10.1016/S1473-3099(22)00515-1

Based on 2747 patients from Argentina, Brazil, Chile, or Paraguay, with laboratory-confirmed influenza virus infection—comprising 649 children (aged 6–24 months), 520 adults (aged 18–64 years) with pre-existing medical conditions, and 1578 older adults (aged ≥65 years)—the results showed that influenza vaccination was associated with reduced odds of intensive care unit (ICU) admission or in-hospital death and shorter length of hospital stay, with these benefits varying by age group. [...]this work contributes to evidence documenting the benefits of influenza vaccination programmes. Studies by the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have identified racial and ethnic disparities in rates of influenza-associated hospitalisation, ICU admission, and in-hospital death.4 The CDC has also reported that people living in areas with high poverty are at increased risk for severe outcomes from influenza,5 suggesting that socioeconomic status might be a factor contributing to higher influenza-related hospitalisation rates among these groups. According to WHO, people at risk for severe illness include pregnant women at any stage of pregnancy, children younger than 5 years, older adults (aged >65 years), and people with chronic medical conditions.6,7 Several studies have shown evidence that people with asthma, heart disease, diabetes, or a number of other chronic health conditions are at an increased risk of developing serious complications of influenza that can result in hospitalisation or death.8 Martínez-Baz and colleagues9 reported that influenza vaccination in people with diabetes reduced the risk of influenza-related hospitalisation by around half.