260300 Additive Benefits of Pneumococcal and Influenza Vaccines among Elderly Persons Aged 75 Years or Older in Taiwan - A representative population- based comparative study

Monday, October 29, 2012

Yu-Chia Chang , Department of Healthcare Administration, Asia University, Taichung, Taiwan
Nicole Huang , Institute of Hospital and Health Care Administration, National Yang Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan
Yiing-Jenq Chou, MD, PhD , Institute of Public Health, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan
Long-Sheng Chen , Office for HealthCare Quality Measurement, Department of Health, Taipei, Taiwan, Taipei, Taiwan
Objective: The answer to the question whether pneumococcal vaccine provides additional protection to the elderly who has already vaccinated with influenza vaccine remains inconclusive. This retrospective cohort study aimed to assess the additive effect of pneumococcal and influenza vaccines on the risk of mortality, hospitalization, and inpatient expenditure in the elderly aged 75 years or older in Taiwan. Methods: Data were extracted from the National Health Insurance claims data of a nationally representative elderly sample. To reduce potential selection bias, we employed a propensity score matching method to classify the vaccination status into 3 groups. Multivariable logistic and linear regression models were used to compare the outcomes among different vaccination groups. Results: The results indicated that vaccinated elderly had significantly lower all-cause mortality than non-vaccinated elderly. An additive effect of receiving both vaccines was associated with a significant 21% -28% reduction in the risk of hospitalization for respiratory conditions, COPD, CHF, and all diseases when compared with receiving influenza vaccine alone. Compared with receiving only the influenza vaccine, receiving both vaccines was associated with sizable 5%- 13% reductions in inpatient expenditures. Conclusions: This study confirmed that vaccination of elderly individuals with pneumococcal vaccine and influenza vaccine concomitantly has substantial beneficial effects.

Learning Areas:
Conduct evaluation related to programs, research, and other areas of practice
Epidemiology
Public health or related public policy
Public health or related research

Learning Objectives:
Evaluate the additive effect of pneumococcal and influenza vaccines on the risk of mortality, hospitalization, and inpatient expenditure in the elderly aged 75 years or older.

Keywords: Infectious Diseases, Elderly

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have been studied about preventive medicine issues for several years. Among my scientific interests has been the development of strategies for preventing Pneumococcal and influenza in elderly persons.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.