Effectiveness of influenza vaccine for the prevention of asthma exacerbations.
BACKGROUND
There is a lack of clinical evidence that annual vaccination against influenza prevents asthma exacerbations in children.


METHODS
Retrospective cohort study of 800 children with asthma, where one half did, and the other half did not receive the influenza vaccine. The two groups were compared with respect to clinic visits, emergency department (ED) visits, and hospitalisations for asthma. In multivariable analyses, adjustment was made for baseline asthma severity, prior utilisation of health services, receipt of vaccine in the previous year, and demographic variables.


RESULTS
After adjusting for other variables, the vaccine group had a significantly increased risk of asthma related clinic visits and ED visits (odds ratios 3.4 and 1.9, respectively).


CONCLUSIONS
This study failed to provide evidence that the influenza vaccine prevents paediatric asthma exacerbations.
Strong Children's Research Center, Rochester General Hospital, Rochester, NY, USA. cynthia.christy@viahealth.org
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D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001249:Asthma / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007252:Influenza Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors
D007252:Influenza Vaccines