Prevention and control of influenza in persons with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Abstract

Despite recommendations for annual vaccination against influenza, more than half of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in developed countries do not receive this vaccine. Influenza is characterized by its potentially of causing epidemics and by excess morbidity and mortality in patients with COPD and other chronic medical conditions. Good evidence of the efficacy, effectiveness, and cost-effectiveness of influenza vaccination underlines the recommendation of use in patients with COPD. Influenza vaccination could reduce influenza-related complications and exacerbations in patients with COPD, therefore reducing hospitalizations and deaths. Each year, all persons with COPD should be vaccinated with the inactivated trivalent influenza vaccine containing the most frequent two influenza A viral strains and one influenza B viral strain detected in the influenza season of the previous year. To achieve a 100% vaccination rate in patients with COPD, all patients with COPD registered in health insurance companies and attended in health centers and specialized clinics should be vaccinated during the immunization period (October–December). Antiviral therapies could be used as an adjunct to vaccination and to reduce influenza transmission in outbreaks. Antiviral therapies could reduce the duration and complications of influenza when administered within two days of the onset of illness. Research is necessary for new antiviral therapies that could prevent influenza with cost-effectiveness similar to the influenza vaccine.

Influenza Vaccination Uptake among the Working Age Population of Japan: Results from a National Cross-Sectional Survey

“…This is consistent with some previous research which revealed that smokers are unlikely to receive influenza vaccine [23], even though they have a high risk of influenza virus infection [24] and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Patients with COPD are strongly encouraged to be vaccinated against influenza [25]. Such a result is not entirely surprising however, as smokers tend to have mixture of unhealthy behaviors; including lower vegetable intake and higher alcohol consumption when compared to non-smokers [26].…”

The Link between Seasonal Influenza and NCDs: Strategies for Improving Vaccination Coverage

“…As an example, the risk of dying from acute myocardial infarction and chronic ischaemic heart disease is 1.3 times greater during influenza epidemic weeks [16]. Case fatality rates from Influenza A can be over 30% in persons with COPD compared to 0.1% or less in the healthy population [17]. Mortality rates in NCD patients range from ten to 377 per 100,000 influenza cases, depending on the number of high-risk conditions [18].…”

Targeting the Skin for Microneedle Delivery of Influenza Vaccine

“…The severity of influenza infection or complications associated with it are greater in certain high risk groups 13–15 . According to the CDC these groups include children younger than 5 years of age particularly affected the ones younger than 2 years old 16,17,18 elderly individuals 65 years old and above 19–23 , pregnant women 24,25 , and people with certain underlying medical conditions such as asthma 26,27 , chronic lung disease 28,29 , heart disease, diabetes 22,30–32 , immunocompromised individuals 33,34,35 , and others 36 . Additionally, people who live in nursing homes and long-term care facilities 30,37,38 as well as health care workers 39–42 are at high risk from influenza infection.…”