[EVAN-65 project: evaluation of the effectiveness of pneumococcus vaccination in the elderly population over 65].
OBJECTIVE
To assess the effectiveness of systematic pneumococcus vaccination (PV) in the over-65s by comparing rates of incidence and severity of the cases of pneumonia caught in the community (PCC), in two cohorts-those vaccinated (VC) and those not (NVC).


METHODS
Multi-centre study of cohorts.


METHODS
Primary Health Care.


METHODS
All those over 65 registered at 8 urban Health Districts and distributed into a VC (with PV) and an NVC.


METHODS
Active monitoring will be conducted for 3 years, with detection of all the PCC occurring during this period. Data sources will be the specific register of the PV programme and exhaustive review of primary Care and referral hospital clinical records (records of pneumonia cases admitted and records of pneumonia cases detected in Casualty).


METHODS
Variables considered will be: age, sex, and presence or otherwise of risk factors linked to greater susceptibility to catching pneumonia (diabetes mellitus, low immunity levels, cardiopathy, COPD, tobacco dependency, alcoholism, splenectomy). To measure the effect, we will calculate the annual and overall accumulated (over 3 years) rates of incidence of pneumonia, as well as the relative and attributable risks. As measurements of its severity, we will analyse the mortality index and the "fine" ordinal scale of severity.


CONCLUSIONS
The study will give a reply in terms of effectiveness and efficiency of the vaccine and will contribute to a definitive decision on the controversial question of the systematic indication of this vaccine for the over-65 population.
Vila Córcoles
A
A
Medicina de Familia SAP Tarragona-Valls, Prat de la Riba 39, 43001 Tarragona, Spain. avila@saptarra.scs.es
Ochoa Gondar
O
O
Hospital Guardiola
I
I
Bria Ferre
X
X
Llor Vila
C
C
Montañes Boncompte
D
D
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017714:Community-Acquired Infections / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D022242:Pneumococcal Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D011018:Pneumonia, Pneumococcal / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012307:Risk Factors; D013296:Streptococcus pneumoniae / Q000276:immunology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014611:Vaccination / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards
D022242:Pneumococcal Vaccines