[Effect of influenza vaccination in Primary Healthcare workers and the general population in Gran Canaria: A cross-sectional study]. / Efecto de la vacunación antigripal en trabajadores de atención primaria y población general de Gran Canaria: estudio transversal.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the effect of the influenza vaccination in Primary Healthcare workers and the general population vaccinated during the 2015/2016 campaign. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: All the Primary Healthcare centres within the Gran Canaria healthcare region. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 1,868 Primary Healthcare workers (33.5% men; 66.5% women) and 795,605 individuals from the general population (49.4% men; 50.6% women). PRINCIPAL MEASUREMENTS: The outcome variables in Primary Healthcare workers were: influenza cases reported to the Epidemiological Surveillance System, and the sick leave days due to illness. In the general population: reported flu cases and vaccination coverage in connection with the vaccination status of the healthcare professional. The magnitude of association between vaccination and morbidity was estimated applying logistic regression models. RESULTS: Although not statistically significant, healthcare professionals that were not vaccinated had 1.7-fold increase in the risk of having influenza than those vaccinated. In the general population the association was significant in the female population (OR: 1.3; 95%CI: 1.1-1.5). Population coverage was significantly higher when both the doctor and nurse were vaccinated (OR: 1.3; 95%CI: 1.3-1.3), and reported flu cases decreased when the nurse was vaccinated (OR: 0.9; 95%CI: 0.9-0.9). CONCLUSION: A possible protective effect of influenza vaccination was observed in the general population, as well as an influence of Primary Healthcare workers on the patients regarding this. Even so, the low coverages registered point to a need to implement measures that may lead to a more favourable attitude towards influenza vaccination.

[Influenza vaccination coverage in children with risk conditions in Catalonia]. / Cobertura de vacunación antigripal en niños con condiciones de riesgo en Cataluña.

INTRODUCTION: Influenza vaccination is recommended in Catalonia in children older than 6 months with risk conditions for developing flu-related complications. The aim of this study is to determine influenza vaccine coverage in children with risk conditions and their association with socio-demographic factors and medical variables. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Descriptive cross-sectional study of children with risk conditions for developing influenza complications (aged between 6months and 15years old) assigned to Primary Health Care centers in Catalonia at the beginning of the 2011-2012 influenza vaccination campaign. The information on vaccination status and study variables were obtained from data registered on electronic health records by primary care teams. The relationship between influenza vaccination and demographic and medical variables was analyzed using bivariate analysis and a multiple logistic regression model. RESULTS: Influenza vaccination coverage was 23.9%. Variables associated with influenza vaccination were: age 2years or older (aOR: 1.6 [1.4-1.7] in children 3-5years old; 1.8 [1.7-2.0] in those 6-10 years, and 2.2 [2.0 -2.4] in children ≥11years]); male sex (aOR: 1.1 [1.0-1.1]); foreign nationality (aOR: 1.2 [1.2-1.3]); age-appropriate immunization according to the systematic immunization schedule (aOR: 3.3 [2.8-3.8]); more than one visit to the primary care physician (5 or more visits) (aOR: 4.1 [3.8-4.4]), and more than one risk condition (3 or more conditions) (aOR: 2.5 [1.6-3.9]). DISCUSSION: Compared to other countries, influenza vaccination coverage among children with risk conditions is low in our study. Strategies to improve coverage should be implemented.

[Effectiveness of influenza vaccination in preventing hospital admission due to exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease]. / Efectividad de la vacunación antigripal para evitar el ingreso hospitalario por agudización de la enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva crónica.

INTRODUCTION: The main objective was to determine the effectiveness of influenza vaccination in preventing hospitalization due to exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). One secondary objective was to estimate the prevalence of vaccination, and to describe the factors that were associated with being vaccinated. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was conducted that included 1,323 patients diagnosed with COPD in the Health Centre of the Pla d'Urgell (Lleida, Spain). They were classified into two cohorts: cohort1, patients vaccinated against seasonal influenza (campaign 2011/12), and cohort2, non-vaccinated. The number of patients in both cohorts requiring hospital admission for exacerbation of the disease between the 12/01/2011 and the 03/15/2012 was quantified. Information about the variables of interest was recorded for each patient. A univariate and multivariate analysis was performed. The effectiveness of vaccination was calculated with the formula: E=(1-OR)×100. The ORs and their 95% confidence interval (95%CI) were determined by multivariate logistic regression models. RESULTS: Just over half (55.3%) of the patients had been vaccinated. Vaccinated patients were older and had more associated comorbidity. At the same time, they were less hospitalized (3.0% versus 8.9%; P=.001). The crude and adjusted effectiveness of influenza vaccination in this population subgroup was 68.4% (95%CI: 47.5-81.0) and 90.8 (95%CI: 96.8-88.2), respectively. CONCLUSION: Influenza vaccination is effective in preventing hospitalization due to acute exacerbations in COPD patients. However, immunization coverage is not as high as desired. Designing programs to increase the rate of vaccination in this population would reduce the number of hospital admissions for COPD exacerbation.

Efficacy and effectiveness of influenza vaccination in healthy children. A review of current evidence.

Influenza is common in healthy children and adolescents and is associated with a high rate of hospitalization in this group, especially for those <5 years. Although the WHO has recommended vaccination in children under 5 years of age since 2012, it is really implemented in few countries today. The aim of this paper was to review the available evidence on the efficacy/effectiveness of influenza vaccination in healthy children <18 years of age through a non-systematic search of studies conducted between 2010 and 2020. Despite the high variability in results due to differences in design, vaccine type and season included in the 41 selected studies, statistically significant studies show efficacy values for the influenza vaccine of between 25.6% and 74.2%, and effectiveness from 26% to 78.8%. Although a systematic review would be necessary to corroborate the evidence, this review suggests that paediatric vaccination is generally an effective measure for preventing influenza in healthy children in line with international organisms' recommendations.

[Vaccination against community acquired pneumonia in adults. Update 2021 of the position paper by Neumoexpertos en Prevención Group]. / Vacunación frente a la neumonía adquirida en la comunidad del adulto. Actualización 2021 del posicionamiento del Grupo de Neumoexpertos en Prevención.

Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) continues to be an important cause of morbidity and mortality in adults. The aim of this study is to update the practical prevention guide for CAP through vaccination in Spain developed in 2016 and updated in 2018, based on available vaccines and evidence through bibliographic review and expert opinion. The arrival of COVID-19 as a new cause of CAP and the recent availability of safe and effective vaccines constitutes the most significant change. Vaccines against pneumococcus, influenza, pertussis and COVID-19 can help to reduce the burden of disease from CAP and its associated complications. The available evidence supports the priority indications established in this guide, and it would be advisable to try to achieve a widespread dissemination and implementation of these recommendations in routine clinical practice.

[Seasonal flu vaccination for older people: Evaluation of the quadrivalent vaccine. Positioning report]. / Vacunación frente a la gripe estacional en las personas mayores. Evaluación de la vacuna tetravalente. Informe de posicionamiento.

Influenza is a significant health problem, particularly in those persons susceptible to having associated complications, older people, children less than 2 years, patients with chronic diseases, immunocompromised patients, and pregnant women. But influenza also has a large impact on the health system, with an increase in the healthcare demand and a spectacular increase in outpatient visits, overloading the emergency and hospital services. During epidemic outbreaks, the hospital admission rates of people over 65 years are at a maximum, and the mortality notified for the 2017/2018 influenza season was 960 deaths. The seasonal anti-influenza vaccine is the method with a better cost-effective ratio of primary prevention of influenza, reducing associated respiratory diseases, the number of hospital admissions, and deaths in high risk individuals, as well as work absenteeism in adults. In the last few years, influenza B has received little attention in the scientific literature, although in the periods between epidemics influenza B can be one of the main causes of seasonal epidemics, causing considerable morbidity and mortality and an increase in costs. The quadrivalent vaccine has a second-line immunological protection against influenza B, and according to a critical review of the scientific literature, it provides wider protection without affecting immunogenicity of the other three vaccine strains common to the trivalent and tetravalent vaccine. The quadrivalent vaccine is cost-effective in reducing the number of influenza cases, and is always a worthwhile intervention, with a significant cost saving for the health system and for society, by reducing the hospital admission rates and mortality associated with the complications of influenza. Supplement information: This article is part of a supplement entitled 'Seasonal flu vaccination for older people: Evaluation of the quadrivalent vaccine' which is sponsored by Sanofi-Aventis, S.A.

[Adult community acquired pneumonia vaccination: 2018 Update of the positioning of the Pneumonia Prevention Expert Group]. / Vacunación frente a la neumonía adquirida en la comunidad del adulto. Actualización 2018 del posicionamiento del Grupo de Neumoexpertos en Prevención.

Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) continues to be an important cause of morbidity and mortality in adults. The aim of this study is to update the 2016 practical prevention guidelines for CAP through vaccination in Spain, based on the available vaccines, as well as the evidence using a literature review and expert opinion. Vaccines against pneumococcus and influenza continue to be the main prevention tools available against CAP, and can contribute to reduce the burden of disease due to CAP and its associated complications. The available evidence supports the priority indications established in these guidelines, and it would be advisable to try to achieve a widespread dissemination and implementation of these recommendations in routine clinical practice.

[Seasonal flu vaccination for older people: Evaluation of the adjuvanted vaccine. Positioning report]. / Vacunación frente a la gripe estacional en las personas mayores. Evaluación de la vacuna adyuvada: Informe de posicionamiento.

Flu is a major public health problem, particularly for older people, and creates an important clinical and economic burden. A high mortality rate was reported in Spain during the period 2015 to 2016; 3,101 serious cases were hospitalised with a confirmed diagnosis of flu, of which 11% died (352 cases). Furthermore, financial and health costs are greatly increased by the complications of flu; people aged over 65 years represent approximately 64% of the total costs. Seasonal flu vaccination is the fundamental strategy, as demonstrated by cost-benefit and cost-effectiveness studies. A priority objective is to improve the vaccine's immune response and the search for and inclusion of adjuvants and immunostimulants in vaccines is a major line of research. This positioning report evaluates vaccination for older people and the importance of the adjuvanted vaccine in the elderly in strengthening immunogenicity, by means of a critical review of the literature based on the best evidence available on its immunogenicity and effectiveness, and an economic assessment.

Estimación de actividades preventivas en pacientes con enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva crónica. Estudio ADEPOCLE.

Objetivos: estimar las actividades preventivas que realizan los pacientes diagnosticados de enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva crónica (EPOC) en la provincia de León.Métodos: estudio epidemiológico, transversal, multicéntrico (30 centros de salud de la provincia de León). Incluyó pacientes mayores de 35 años diagnosticados y tratados de EPOC. Variables a estudio: edad, sexo, hábitat, datos antropométricos, tabaquismo, estado nutricional, ejercicio físico, vacunación antigripal, vacunación, antineumocócica (VNP23 y VNC13), fenotipo, gravedad, reagudizaciones y hospitalizaciones. Los resultados se expresan con sus IC al 95,5%.Resultados: se incluyeron 833 pacientes, el 85,8% varones, edad media: 64,69 años (53,66-75,61) y 20,65 años (4,47-36,8) de evolución de la EPOC. El 86,67% (80,30-93,30) tenían antecedentes de tabaquismo (n = 722), de 35,26 años de evolución (17,87-52,64), consumían 28,36 paquetes al año (9,60-46,86), p < 0,001, siendo el 58% fumadores severos. En fumadores activos (n = 288) la intervención más efectiva fue terapia cognitivo-conductual más vareniclina, con abstinencias del 29,86%. En total dejaron de fumar el 51,05% (49,49-52,70) de los pacientes con EPOC, p < 0,001. El 73,67% (71,78-75,65) realizaba ejercicio prescrito, el 88,76% (84,82-90,7) realizaba dieta equilibrada, el 89,7% (87,8-91,8) estaba vacunado frente a la gripe, siendo esta más frecuente en los mayores de 65 años y hospitalizados, p < 0,001. El 9,61% (7,7-11,6) de los no vacunados tuvo reagudizaciones que requirieron ingreso hospitalario, p < 0,001. La tasa de vacunación con VNP23 fue del 52,8% (49,3-56,4) vs.4,97% (3,0-6,61) de VNC13, p < 0,05.Conclusiones: las actividades preventivas en los pacientes con EPOC se realizan de forma óptima en nuestro entorno, superior a la media nacional, aunque se deben lograr mayores tasas de cobertura de vacunación frente al neumococo.

Prevalence of Influenza Vaccination in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Patients and Impact on the Risk of Severe Exacerbations.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of influenza vaccination in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients, and the effectiveness of the procedure. METHODS: Retrospective population-based cohort study. On 31 December 2011, influenza vaccination history was retrieved from 899 patients with confirmed COPD selected by simple random sampling from all COPD patients in Cantabria (northern Spain). Severe exacerbations (hospitalization due to COPD exacerbation) and overall mortality during 2012 were treated as dependent variables. Odds ratios (OR) were estimated by logistic regression, adjusting for age, sex, smoking status, severity of COPD, and frequency of exacerbations during the previous year. Prevented fraction among the exposed (PFe-adjusted) was determined as a measure of impact. RESULTS: Overall prevalence of influenza vaccination was 62.7%, but this rate fell in patients classified as more severe according to FEV1 (52.0%). Influenza vaccination showed a statistically significant protective effect against severe exacerbations in the following year: Ora: 0.54 (95%CI: 0.35-0.84); FPe-adjusted: 0.46 (95%CI: 0.16-0.65). A non-significant protective effect for overall mortality was observed: Ora: 0.76 (95%CI: 0.41-1.40). When stratified according to COPD severity (FEV1), the protective effect against risk of hospitalization was higher in more severe COPD patients: Ora: 0.23 (95%CI: 0.11-0.48); FPe-adjusted: 0.77 (95%CI: 0.52-0.89). CONCLUSIONS: We found that influenza vaccination has a protective effect and reduces the risk of hospitalization due to exacerbations in the following year. Despite the evidence for protection, prevalence of vaccination was not optimal, especially in more severe COPD patients.

[Vaccination against community acquired pneumonia in adult patients. A position paper by Neumoexpertos en Prevención]. / Vacunación frente a la neumonía adquirida en la comunidad del adulto. Posicionamiento del Grupo de Neumoexpertos en Prevención.

INTRODUCTION: Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in adults. The annual incidence of CAP in adults in Spain ranges from 3 to 14 cases per 1,000 inhabitants. Current clinical guidelines primarily focus on the therapeutic approach to CAP rather than its prevention. The aim of this study is to develop and propose a practical guide for CAP prevention through vaccination in Spain according to available vaccines and evidence. METHODS: A literature review and expert opinion. RESULTS: Pneumococcal and influenza vaccines are the main preventive tools available against CAP. Age, chronic diseases, and immunosuppression are risk factors for pneumonia, so these populations should be a priority for vaccination. In addition, influenza and pneumococcal vaccination is considered advisable in healthy adults under 60 years of age, and anyone with risk condition for CAP, irrespective of age. The influenza vaccine will be administered seasonally, while pneumococcal vaccination can be administered at any time of the year. CONCLUSIONS: Vaccination against pneumococcus and influenza in adults can help to reduce the burden of CAP and its associated complications. The available evidence supports the priority indications set out in this guide, and it would be advisable to try to achieve a wide circulation and practical implementation of these recommendations.

Estudio observacional de cohorte de pacientes con enfermedad tipo influenza durante el período 2010 ­ 2013 / Observational cohort study of patients with influenza-like illness during the period 2010 - 2013

Desde la pandemia de Influenza del año 2009, se realizaron campañas de vacunación, aumentaron las consultas médicas y el uso de medicación. Los datos recolectados durante las últimas temporadas nos permitieron describir incidencia de casos de influenza, comparar la incidencia de tipos y subtipos, y la frecuencia de vacunación. Para ello se realizó un estudio prospectivo, observacional de cohorte, sobre la población de pacientes que consultaron al Hospital J. M. Ramos Mejía desde octubre/2010 a septiembre/2013. Participaron 336 pacientes de los cuales 147 tuvieron resultado positivo para Influenza. La incidencia de casos de Influenza fue 43,7% sobre los pacientes con síntomas gri-pales durante el periodo evaluado. Se observó que el odds de presen-tar infección por influenza fue 3,8 veces de los pacientes no vacunados que los que recibieron la vacuna antigripal. Estos resultados permitie-ron observar una variación estacional de los subtipos virales de Influen-za, frecuencia de vacunación y complicaciones de nuestra población

Since the 2009 pandemic Influenza, vaccination campaigns were conducted, and medical visits and medication use increased. The data collected during recent flu seasons allowed us to describe Influenza type and subtype incidence, and to compare the incidence and frequency of vaccination. A prospective, observational cohort study was conducted of the patient population attended in the J. M. Ramos Mejia Hospital from October / 2010 to September / 2013. It involved 336 patients of which 147 were positive for influenza. The incidence of influenza was of 43.7% over the symptomatic subjects during the study period. It was observed that the odds of presenting influenza infection was 3.8 times in unvaccinated patients than those who received flu vaccine. These results show a seasonal variation of influenza viral subtypes, the vaccination frequency and the medical complications

Vacunación antigripal en personal de salud: cobertura, actitudes y barreras contra la vacunación en dos servicios de un hospital general / Influenza immunization in health care professionals: coverage, attitudes and barriers against immunization in two departments of a general hospital

Con el objetivo de conocer la cobertura y las barreras contra la vacunación antigripal, cuya aceptación estimábamos baja entre el personal de salud(PDS) se realizó un estudio transversal, descriptivo, con la metodología de encuesta, autoadministrada con opciones cerradas para su respuesta. Se utilizó una muestra de 142 PDS integrantes del Hospital Pasteur (MSP-ASSE), aleatorizada y adecuada para extraer conclusiones estadísticamente válidas. Los resultados mostraron que 87/142 (61,3%) de los encuestados conocía la campaña de vacunación antigripal en el Hospital, reconocieron tener indicación de vacunación antigripal 124/142 (87,3%) a pesar de lo cual se vacunaron en 2011 79/142 (55,6%) y en 2012 53/142 (37,3%). Los vacunados en 2012 respondieron como motivos principales de adherencia a la campaña protegerse a sí mismo de la enfermedad, pertenecer al PDS y proteger a su familia. De los no vacunados en 2012 respondieron como motivos principales: percepción de nunca haber contraído gripe, miedo a efectos adversos y descrédito al efecto inmunizador de las vacunas. Se confirmó la baja tasa de vacunación del PDS (37,3% en año 2012) a pesar de reconocer la indicación y tener accesibilidad a la misma; se identificaron como barreras las percepciones erróneas acerca de la vacunación...