Antibody Response to 1995–1996 Influenza Vaccine in Institutionalized and Non-Institutionalized Elderly Women

• Published in: Gerontology (Basel) Vol. 45; no. 1; pp. 31 - 38
• Main Authors: Iorio, A.M., Alatri, A., Camilloni, B., Neri, M., Baglio, G., Donatelli, I.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basel, Switzerland S. Karger AG 01.01.1999
• Subjects: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Aging - immunology; Antibodies, Viral - biosynthesis; Antibodies, Viral - blood; Clinical Section; Cohort Studies; Female; Hemagglutination Inhibition Tests; Homes for the Aged; Humans; Influenza Vaccines - immunology; Institutionalization; Italy; Middle Aged; Nursing Homes; Italy; Influenza vaccination; Institutionalized elderly women, influenza; Antibody response
• ISSN: 0304-324X; 1423-0003
• DOI: 10.1159/000022052

Background: Concern about poor responsiveness to influenza vaccination by institutionalized elderly people. Objective: To determine whether institutionalized elderly volunteers develop a significant antibody response following influenza vaccine and to compare this response with that of non-institutionalized subjects. Methods: The haemagglutination-inhibiting antibody response after 1995–1996 influenza vaccination [A/Shangdong/9/93 (H3N2), A/Taiwan/1/86 (H1N1), B/Panama/45/90] was estimated in 80 elderly women living in a nursing home and compared with that of 51 non-institutionalized women. Results: No differences were found in the prevaccination status, and, after vaccination, a significant humoral response was elicited both in institutionalized and non-institutionalized elderly subjects against all three influenza strains tested. The immune response of institutionalized patients was satisfactory and significantly higher than that observed in non-institutionalized women. These results were confirmed both by a separate analysis of homogeneous subgroups stratified according to the presence in the two cohorts of potential causes of differential antibody response (prevaccination antibody titre, age, long-term drug treatment, risk factors for influenza infection, and physical disability) and by logistic regression analysis in order to adjust immune responses for the different variables. Conclusion: Influenza vaccination is effective in elderly people living in nursing homes. However, the postvaccination antibody response to influenza vaccine is influenced by different factors directly or indirectly related to residence.