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Introduction: Patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are at increased risk for serious infections. Pneumococcal vaccination is among the most important preventive measures, however, vaccine uptake is suboptimal. We explored the rate and factors associated with pneumococcal vaccination in a contemporary RA cohort. Materials and methods: Multi-center, prospective, RA cohort study in Greece. Patient and disease characteristics and influenza and pneumococcal vaccinations were documented at baseline and 3 years later. Results: One thousand six hundred and ninety-seven patients were included and 34.5% had already received at least one pneumococcal vaccine at baseline. Among 1,111 non-vaccinated patients, 40.1% received pneumococcal vaccination during follow-up, increasing the vaccine coverage to 60.8%. By multivariate analysis, positive predictors for pneumococcal vaccination included prescription of influenza vaccine (OR = 33.35, 95% CI: 18.58-59.85), history of cancer (OR = 2.35, 95% CI: 1.09-5.06), bDMARD use (OR = 1.85, 95% CI: 1.29-2.65), seropositivity (OR = 1.47, 95% CI: 1.05-2.05), and high disease activity (DAS28-ESR, OR = 1.33, 95% CI: 1.17-1.51). Male sex (OR = 0.65, 95% CI: 0.43-0.99) was a negative predictor for pneumococcal vaccination during follow-up. Discussion: Despite increasing rates of pneumococcal vaccine coverage, 40% of RA patients remain unvaccinated. Severe disease, bDMARD use, comorbidities, and more importantly flu vaccination were the most significant factors associated with pneumococcal vaccination, emphasizing the currently unmet need for cultivating a "vaccination culture" in RA patients.
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OBJECTIVES: Predicting serious infections (SI) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is crucial for the implementation of appropriate preventive measures. Here we aimed to identify risk factors for SI and to validate the RA Observation of Biologic Therapy (RABBIT) risk score in real-life settings. METHODS: A multi-centre, prospective, RA cohort study in Greece. Demographics, disease characteristics, treatments and comorbidities were documented at first evaluation and one year later. The incidence of SI was recorded and compared with the expected SI rate using the RABBIT risk score. RESULTS: A total of 1557 RA patients were included. During follow-up, 38 SI were recorded [incidence rate ratio (IRR): 2.3/100 patient-years]. Patients who developed SI had longer disease duration, higher HAQ at first evaluation and were more likely to have a history of previous SI, chronic lung disease, cardiovascular disease and chronic kidney disease. By multivariate analysis, longer disease duration (IRR: 1.05; 95% CI: 1.005, 1.1), history of previous SI (IRR: 4.15; 95% CI: 1.7, 10.1), diabetes (IRR: 2.55; 95% CI: 1.06, 6.14), chronic lung disease (IRR: 3.14; 95% CI: 1.35, 7.27) and daily prednisolone dose ≥10 mg (IRR: 4.77; 95% CI: 1.47, 15.5) were independent risk factors for SI. Using the RABBIT risk score in 1359 patients, the expected SI incidence rate was 1.71/100 patient-years, not different from the observed (1.91/100 patient-years; P = 0.97). CONCLUSION: In this large real-life, prospective study of RA patients, the incidence of SI was 2.3/100 patient-years. Longer disease duration, history of previous SI, comorbidities and high glucocorticoid dose were independently associated with SI. The RABBIT score accurately predicted SI in our cohort.
