J Puig Barberà1, S Márquez Calderón. 1. Unidad de Programas de Promoción de Salud, Dirección de Atención Primaria Area 02, Conselleria de Sanitat i Consum, Generalitat Valenciana.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The acceptance of influenza vaccine has been slow as doubts about its effectiveness persist. The goal of this study is to review the existing evidence on influenza vaccine effectiveness in preventing pneumonia and influenza hospitalizations in non institutionalized elderly. METHODS: We have conducted a search in MEDLINE, including a period between 1984 and 1994, and of cross references, between 1980 and 1994. Twelve studies have been identified and valued independently by the authors. The results are combined through a graphic representation and the quantitative method proposed by Woolf. RESULTS: Four studies have been excluded; two, because they did not satisfy the comparability principle; one, because it was a publication already published; and one because of small numbers. According to the graphic method, influenza vaccine prevents between 29 and 51 percent of pneumonia and influenza hospitalizations in the non institutionalized elderly. When results are integrated by the quantitative method, the odds ratio is 0.63 (CI 95%, 0.54 to 0.72). The percentage of pneumonia and influenza hospitalizations prevented by the influenza vaccine equals 37.40% (CI 95%, 27.81% to 45.72%) in the vaccinated. CONCLUSIONS: The annual influenza immunization of those 65 years old or older is an effective primary prevention strategy.
BACKGROUND: The acceptance of influenza vaccine has been slow as doubts about its effectiveness persist. The goal of this study is to review the existing evidence on influenza vaccine effectiveness in preventing pneumonia and influenza hospitalizations in non institutionalized elderly. METHODS: We have conducted a search in MEDLINE, including a period between 1984 and 1994, and of cross references, between 1980 and 1994. Twelve studies have been identified and valued independently by the authors. The results are combined through a graphic representation and the quantitative method proposed by Woolf. RESULTS: Four studies have been excluded; two, because they did not satisfy the comparability principle; one, because it was a publication already published; and one because of small numbers. According to the graphic method, influenza vaccine prevents between 29 and 51 percent of pneumonia and influenza hospitalizations in the non institutionalized elderly. When results are integrated by the quantitative method, the odds ratio is 0.63 (CI 95%, 0.54 to 0.72). The percentage of pneumonia and influenza hospitalizations prevented by the influenza vaccine equals 37.40% (CI 95%, 27.81% to 45.72%) in the vaccinated. CONCLUSIONS: The annual influenza immunization of those 65 years old or older is an effective primary prevention strategy.
Authors: H Schwarz Chávarri; J L Ortuño López; A Lattur Vílchez; V Pedrera Carbonell; D Orozco Beltrán; V Gil Guillén Journal: Aten Primaria Date: 2005-03-15 Impact factor: 1.137
Authors: J Puig-Barberà; S Márquez-Calderón; A Masoliver-Fores; F Lloria-Paes; A Ortega-Dicha; M Gil-Martín; M J Calero-Martínez Journal: J Epidemiol Community Health Date: 1997-10 Impact factor: 3.710
Authors: Lamberto Manzoli; John P A Ioannidis; Maria Elena Flacco; Corrado De Vito; Paolo Villari Journal: Hum Vaccin Immunother Date: 2012-07-01 Impact factor: 3.452
Authors: Vittorio Demicheli; Tom Jefferson; Carlo Di Pietrantonj; Eliana Ferroni; Sarah Thorning; Roger E Thomas; Alessandro Rivetti Journal: Cochrane Database Syst Rev Date: 2018-02-01