title: Influenza vaccination among cardiovascular disease sufferers in Spain: related factors and trend, 1993-2003.
abstract: Based on data drawn from the 1993 and 2003 National Health Surveys (NHS), we sought to: estimate influenza vaccination coverages among Spanish cardiovascular disease (CVD) sufferers; study which variables were associated with the likelihood of being vaccinated; analyze the time-trend in coverage for the period 1993-2003. For study purposes, a CVD sufferer was defined as any adult who reported suffering from high blood pressure and/or heart disease. The proportion of vaccinated adult CVD sufferers in 1993 and 2003 totalled 39.96% and 51.73%, respectively. The following variables increased the likelihood of being vaccinated: higher age; male gender; presence of respiratory chronic diseases; non-smoker status. Coverages for CVD sufferers had improved significantly from 1993 to 2003 but still remain below desirable levels. The improvement over time is mainly due to the subgroup aged >64 years. Strategies must be implemented to improve the use of influenza vaccine among CVD sufferers in Spain in general, and among the younger age-groups in particular.
authors.affiliation: Preventive Medicine and Public Health Teaching and Research Unit, Health Sciences Faculty, Rey Juan Carlos University, Avda de Atenas s/n, Alcorcón 28922, Spain. rodrigo.jimenez@urjc.es
authors.forename: Rodrigo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jiménez-García
authors.forename: Valentín
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Hernández-Barrera
authors.forename: Pilar
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Carrasco Garrido
authors.forename: Silvia Vázquez-Fernández
authors.initials: SV
authors.lastname: del Pozo
authors.forename: Angel Gil
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: de Miguel
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007252:Influenza Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D014611:Vaccination / Q000706:statistics & numerical data* / Q000639:trends*
chemical_list: D007252:Influenza Vaccines