title: Uptake of influenza vaccine in ulcerative colitis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The incidence of vaccine-preventable-disease is increasing. Current practice guidelines recommend annual influenza vaccination for all inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using the Business Objects database of Clalit Health Services in the Tel Aviv district we identified all patients over 18 years-old with a diagnosis of ulcerative colitis (UC) on 31.12.05. This cohort was followed until 31.12.12. Subjects over age 50 without IBD who are also targeted for influenza vaccination served as controls. The uptake of annual influenza vaccination was recorded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  470 UC patients were included (241 (51.3%) males, age 50.4 ± 18.4 years, disease duration 158.9 ± 86.5 months), and 2960 controls. During the years 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012 the uptake of influenza vaccination was 101 (21.5%), 122 (26.0%), 147 (31.3%), 181 (38.5%), 177 (37.7%), 170 (36.2%) and 178 (37.9%) amongst UC patients, and 993 (33.5%), 1360 (45.9%), 1524 (51.5%), 1611 (54.4%), 1446 (48.9%), 1576 (53.2%) and 1557 (52.6%) amongst controls (p<0.0001 for every year). Independent predictors of vaccination included age (OR, 1.05; 95% CI, 1.03-1.06; p<0.001) and cardiovascular risk (OR, 1.81; 95% CI, 1.31-2.49; p<0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although uptake influenza vaccination is consistently lower in UC compared to controls, an upward trend was observed over the study period. Public health initiatives should target this high-risk population to promote immunization.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Rabin Medical Center, Beilinson Campus, Petah Tikva and Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel; Department of Gastroenterology, Batyamon Health Center and Clalit Health Services, Israel. Electronic address: dboltin@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Doron
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Boltin
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Rabin Medical Center, Beilinson Campus, Petah Tikva and Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
authors.forename: Rachel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gingold-Belfer
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Batyamon Health Center and Clalit Health Services, Israel.
authors.forename: Nimrod Alain
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Kimchi
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Rabin Medical Center, Beilinson Campus, Petah Tikva and Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
authors.forename: Ofer
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Ben-Bassat
authors.affiliation: Clalit Health Services, Tel Aviv District Head Office, Tel Aviv, Israel.
authors.forename: Judith
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Langiewicz
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Rabin Medical Center, Beilinson Campus, Petah Tikva and Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
authors.forename: Yaron
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Niv
authors.affiliation: Clalit Health Services, Tel Aviv District Head Office, Tel Aviv, Israel.
authors.forename: Shlomo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Birkenfeld
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003093:Colitis, Ulcerative; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007252:Influenza Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007557:Israel; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014611:Vaccination / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D007252:Influenza Vaccines
keywords: Immunization; Inflammatory bowel disease; Influenza; Influenza vaccine; Ulcerative colitis