[The efficacy of influenza vaccine for acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive lung disease in elderly patients].
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.
Ayabe
Eriko
E
Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Kameda Medical Center.
Kaneko
Norihiro
N
Ohkuni
Yoshihiro
Y
Misawa
Masafumi
M
Inoue
Keiichi
K
Tanabe
Yuko
Y
Yasui
Daisaku
D
Sato
Chieko
C
Mitsuishi
Yoichiro
Y
Nakashita
Tamao
T
Motojima
Shinji
S
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
D007252:Influenza Vaccines