title: [The efficacy of influenza vaccine for acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive lung disease in elderly patients].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Acute exacerbations adversely affect the quality of life and prognosis of patients with chronic obstructive lung disease (COPD). Prevention of future exacerbations is extremely important, especially for elderly patients. In this study, we evaluated the efficacy of influenza vaccine for acute exacerbation of COPD in elderly patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective cohort study was conducted among 289 patients over 65 years of age with COPD (FEV1/FCV<0.70) during the 2001-2002 influenza season. Background data, outpatient visits for wheezing and hospitalizations were compared between the vaccinated group (n = 189) and the unvaccinated group (n = 100).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The number of patients who visited hospital for wheezing was 11 of 189 (5.8%) in the vaccinated group and 23 of 100 (23%) in the unvaccinated group (RRR: relative risk reduction 74.7%, 95% CI: confidence interval 0.51-0.87). The number of hospitalizations for pneumonia was 8 of 189 (4.2%) in the vaccinated group and 14 of 100 (14%) in the unvaccinated group (RRR 69.8%, 95% CI: 0.32-0.87). The costs of hospitalization were lower in the vaccinated group with direct savings of 91,525 yen per patient.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  For elderly COPD patients, influenza vaccine decreases acute exacerbation due to pneumonia and bronchoconstriction, and also may minimize the costs of hospitalization.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Kameda Medical Center.
authors.forename: Eriko
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ayabe
authors.forename: Norihiro
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kaneko
authors.forename: Yoshihiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ohkuni
authors.forename: Masafumi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Misawa
authors.forename: Keiichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Inoue
authors.forename: Yuko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tanabe
authors.forename: Daisaku
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Yasui
authors.forename: Chieko
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sato
authors.forename: Yoichiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Mitsuishi
authors.forename: Tamao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nakashita
authors.forename: Shinji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Motojima
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007252:Influenza Vaccines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012135:Respiratory Sounds / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D007252:Influenza Vaccines