Titilope Olanipekun1, Valery S Effoe2, Olalekan Olanipekun3, Efehi Igbinomwanhia3, Onaopepo Kola-Kehinde4, Claudia Fotzeu5, Nicolas Bakinde5, Rachael Harris2. 1. Department of Internal Medicine, Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States; Grady Memorial Hospital, Atlanta, GA, United States. Electronic address: toolanipekun@gmail.com. 2. Department of Internal Medicine, Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States; Grady Memorial Hospital, Atlanta, GA, United States; Division of Cardiology, Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States. 3. Department of Internal Medicine, Advocate Illinois Masonic Med. Center, Chicago, IL, United States. 4. Department of Health Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, United States. 5. Department of Internal Medicine, Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States; Grady Memorial Hospital, Atlanta, GA, United States.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Evidence suggests that annual influenza vaccination may prevent acute heart failure exacerbation episodes and improve survival. OBJECTIVE: Determine the influenza vaccination rate among African American patients with heart failure and identify predictors of uptake. METHODS: 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. RESULTS: 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<0.05). Major reasons for declining vaccination included fear of getting sick from influenza vaccine and distrust of the pharmaceutical companies that produce vaccines. CONCLUSIONS: Recommendation of influenza vaccines by physicians during medical consultations and cardiology visits may improve uptake rates in heart failure patients.
BACKGROUND: Evidence suggests that annual influenza vaccination may prevent acute heart failure exacerbation episodes and improve survival. OBJECTIVE: Determine the influenza vaccination rate among African American patients with heart failure and identify predictors of uptake. METHODS: 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. RESULTS: 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<0.05). Major reasons for declining vaccination included fear of getting sick from influenza vaccine and distrust of the pharmaceutical companies that produce vaccines. CONCLUSIONS: Recommendation of influenza vaccines by physicians during medical consultations and cardiology visits may improve uptake rates in heart failurepatients.
Authors: Titilope Olanipekun; Temidayo Abe; Timothy Sobukonla; Jothika Tamizharasu; Linda Gamo; Nelson T Kuete; Nicolas Bakinde; Gloria Westney; Richard H Snyder Journal: J Natl Med Assoc Date: 2021-09-16 Impact factor: 1.798