Heterogeneity of case definitions used in vaccine effectiveness studies—And its impact on meta-analysis

• Published in: Vaccine Vol. 24; no. 44; pp. 6602 - 6604
• Main Author: Beyer, Walter E.P.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 10.11.2006; Elsevier; Elsevier Limited
• Subjects: Applied microbiology; Biological and medical sciences; Estimates; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Heterogeneity; Humans; Illnesses; Immunization; Influenza; Influenza vaccine; Influenza Vaccines - immunology; Influenza Vaccines - therapeutic use; Influenza, Human - epidemiology; Influenza, Human - prevention & control; Meta-analysis; Microbiology; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic - standards; Respiratory diseases; Seasons; Sensitivity; Specificity; Studies; Treatment Outcome; Vaccine effectiveness; Vaccines; Vaccines, antisera, therapeutical immunoglobulins and monoclonal antibodies (general aspects); Winter; Specificity; Sensitivity; Influenza vaccine; Vaccine effectiveness; Meta-analysis; Infection; Viral disease; Influenza; Vaccine; Metaanalysis

In the literature, different definitions of clinical illness cases and observation period are used to assess influenza vaccine effectiveness, usually without addressing their actual specificity and sensitivity. These properties, however, have large implications on influenza vaccine effectiveness est...