• FluTrackers.com Inc. does not provide medical advice. Information on this web site is collected from various internet resources, and the FluTrackers board of directors makes no warranty to the safety, efficacy, correctness or completeness of the information posted on this site by any author or poster. The information collated here is for instructional and/or discussion purposes only and is NOT intended to diagnose or treat any disease, illness, or other medical condition. Every individual reader or poster should seek advice from their personal physician/healthcare practitioner before considering or using any interventions that are discussed on this website. By continuing to access this website you agree to consult your personal physican before using any interventions posted on this website, and you agree to hold harmless FluTrackers.com Inc., the board of directors, the members, and all authors and posters for any effects from use of any medication, supplement, vitamin or other substance, device, intervention, etc. mentioned in posts on this website, or other internet venues referenced in posts on this website.
  • We are not asking for any donations. Do not donate to any entity who says they are raising funds for us.

Clinical effectiveness of seasonal influenza vaccine among adult cancer patients

tetano

Editor, Senior Moderator
Cancer. 2013 Sep 16. doi: 10.1002/cncr.28351. [Epub ahead of print]
Clinical effectiveness of seasonal influenza vaccine among adult cancer patients.
Vinograd I, Eliakim-Raz N, Farbman L, Baslo R, Taha A, Sakhnini A, Lador A, Stemmer SM, Gafter-Gvili A, Leibovici L, Paul M.
Source

Pharmacy Services, Schneider Children's Medical Center, Petah Tikva, Israel; Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel.
Abstract
BACKGROUND:

Patients with cancer are at increased risk of developing complications of influenza. In this study, the authors assessed the effectiveness of influenza vaccination among cancer patients.
METHODS:

A prospective, noninterventional cohort study was conducted during the 2010 to 2011 influenza season. The cohort included adult cancer patients with solid malignancies who were receiving chemotherapy and hematologic patients who had active disease. Patients who died between October and November 2010 (N = 43) were excluded. A comparison was made between patients who received the 2011 seasonal influenza vaccine with those who did not. The primary outcome was a composite of hospitalizations for fever or acute respiratory infections, pneumonia, and/or infection-related chemotherapy interruptions. All-cause mortality was a secondary outcome. A propensity-matched analysis was conducted based on the propensity for vaccination.
RESULTS:

Of 806 patients who were included, 387 (48%) were vaccinated. Factors that were associated independently with vaccination included past influenza vaccination, past pneumococcal vaccination, >6 months since cancer diagnosis, country of birth, and cancer type/status. The primary outcome occurred in 111 of 387 (28.7%) vaccinated patients versus 112 of 419 (26.7%) unvaccinated patients (P = .54). No association was observed between vaccination and the primary outcome in a propensity-matched analysis (N = 436) or during peak influenza activity. The mortality rate was 11.9% (46 of 387 patients) in vaccinated patients versus 19.1% (80 of 419 patients) in unvaccinated patients (P = .005). Vaccination retained a significant association with mortality on multivariable analysis (odds ratio, 2.31; 95% confidence interval, 1.4-3.79) and in a propensity-matched analysis (odds ratio, 2.39; 95% confidence interval, 1.32-4.32).
CONCLUSIONS:

Influenza vaccination was associated with lower mortality among cancer patients, although an association with infection-related complications could not be demonstrated. The current results support efforts to promote influenza vaccination in patients with cancer. Cancer 2013;. ? 2013 American Cancer Society.

? 2013 American Cancer Society.
KEYWORDS:

chemotherapy, influenza, neoplasms, vaccination

PMID:
24105033
[PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24105033
 
Back
Top Bottom