Influenza Vaccination and Other Factors Related to the Development of Influenza‐Like Illness Among Patients on Chronic Hemodialysis in a Japanese Dialysis Facility

Abstract

The present study was conducted to evaluate the protective effect of seasonal influenza vaccination on the development of influenza-like illness (ILI), as well as to investigate factors related to the development of ILI among patients in a Japanese dialysis facility. One hundred eighty-three hemodialysis (HD) patients were followed up from November 2008 to March 2009. During the follow-up period, 17 patients developed ILI. We compared the characteristics of these 17 patients to patients without ILI. Compared to the non-ILI group (N = 166), the ILI group (N = 17) showed a non-significantly lower rate of influenza vaccination (70.6% vs. 86.7%, P = 0.07), while any other factor did not differ between the two groups. Influenza vaccination tended to reduce the risk of ILI (Odds ratio = 0.37, 95% CI = 0.12 to 1.14, P = 0.07). The findings of the present study suggested that the influenza vaccine was 60% effective to prevent ILI among HD patients, although the effectiveness was not statistically significant.

Epidemiology and burden of illness of seasonal influenza among the elderly in Japan: A systematic literature review and vaccine effectiveness meta‐analysis

“…End‐stage renal disease requiring hemodialysis was the most commonly studied comorbidity associated with influenza, probably because of the recommendation for influenza vaccination in the Guidelines for Standard Hemodialysis Procedure and Prevention of Infection in Maintenance Hemodialysis Facilities (4th edition) in Japan 33‐37 . These patients were recognized to be at high‐risk for infection due to immune dysfunction and receipt of treatment in the same room as other patients.…”

“…These patients were recognized to be at high‐risk for infection due to immune dysfunction and receipt of treatment in the same room as other patients. Those who visited a hospital regularly for dialysis had attack rates between 3.2% to 4.8% in 2008 33,34 while another study reported 9.2% ILI incidence during the 2008/2009 season 36 . Other studies of comorbid patients included investigations of influenza patients with rheumatic diseases, 38,39 mental illness, 40 and orthopedic disease 41 and while the baseline status of other comorbidities (eg cerebrovascular disease) was occasionally reported, they were not analyzed as subgroups 42‐44 …”

Influenza vaccination coverage rates and other related factors in high-risk groups in Birjand, East of Iran

“…Vaccination is one of the most important strategies for early prevention in this group. 9 Following the recommendations by the World Health Organization (WHO), the Iranian health department recommends influenza vaccination for high-risk groups as well. In this regard, for patients with diabetes and COPD, the cost of vaccination is covered by insurance companies at a reasonable price, and they are a priority in terms of injection time.…”

Effectiveness of Influenza Vaccine in Hemodialyzed Patients: A Retrospective Study

“…Despite suspicion of the decreased efficacy of influenza vaccine and the low level of evidence supporting its effectiveness (7,8), the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nonetheless, recommends annual influenza vaccination for dialysis patients (5). Part of the rationale for this recommendation is that dialysis patients are more prone to develop influenza complications.…”