Testing the feasibility and initial effects of iron and vitamin C to enhance nursing home residents' immune status following an influenza vaccine.
Influenza infections pose a serious threat to residents living in nursing homes and are a major cause of morbidity and mortality in older adults. It is estimated that influenza vaccination is only 30%-40% effective in the frail elderly. This 2-group experimental design study examined the efficacy of giving iron supplements to nursing home residents aged 65 and older to improve immune response following influenza vaccination. Specific aims of the study were to test study procedures and explore initial immune response. A number of barriers were encountered during the recruitment and consent phase limiting subject recruitment. Only serum transferrin was significantly different following the 30-day administration of iron supplementation. It was concluded that to achieve sufficient power to examine the effect of the intervention on immune response and infection rates, aggressive recruiting strategies at multiple sites are necessary.
University of Arizona, College of Nursing in Tucson, USA.
Neva L
NL
Crogan
Donna
D
Velasquez
Mary Jo
MJ
Gagan
D000368:Aged / Q000502:physiology; D000375:Aging / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D018798:Anemia, Iron-Deficiency / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000276:immunology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015400:Clinical Nursing Research; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006707:Homes for the Aged; D006801:Humans; D016867:Immunocompromised Host / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D007252:Influenza Vaccines / Q000276:immunology*; D007501:Iron / Q000276:immunology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009735:Nursing Homes; D015596:Nutrition Assessment; D009752:Nutritional Status; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012307:Risk Factors; D014168:Transferrin / Q000378:metabolism; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D007252:Influenza Vaccines; D014168:Transferrin; D007501:Iron; D001205:Ascorbic Acid