Abstract

VILA CORCOLES, A.  and  GRUPO DE ESTUDIO EVAN-65 et al. Effectiveness of pneumococcal vaccine in patients aged 65 years or older. Medifam [online]. 2003, vol.13, n.4, pp.61-68. ISSN 1131-5768.

Backgrounds: the effectiveness of the antipneumococcal vaccination (VAN 23S) regarding the prevention of a pneumococcal infection is currently controversial and appears to vanish among elderly people. However, vaccination continues to be indicated in this age group. The aim of this survey is to assess the effectiveness of this vaccine in two cohorts (vaccinated people and not vaccinated) among subjects elder than 65 by comparing incidence rates and severity degree of pneumonias in both groups.  Methods: retrospective cohort study realized in a Basic Health Care Area in two cohorts of patients older than 65 years: 301 were vaccinated and 301 non-vaccinated from 1993 to our days. All the pneumonias during the period 1994-1999, were identified and the incidence rate, severity degree and letal index were calculated.  Results: the mean incidence rate of pneumonia  was 13,29‰ in habitants in the 6-year period of time (16,6‰ in VC and 9,96‰ in NVC), with a relative risk for the vaccinated cohort of 1,67 (95%CI: 0,95-2,92). No statistical significant differences were encountered neither in death rates in both groups (VC: 13.7 vs 15.7% in NVC) nor in the severity degree of pneumonias in both groups. Conclusions: a protective effect of the antipneumococcal vaccination has not been proven in our country, neither related to the infection onset nor related to the severity acquisition of the pneumococcal infection.

Keywords : Pneumococcal vaccines; Community-acquired pneumonia; Effectiveness.

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