Medizinische Universität Graz Austria/Österreich - Forschungsportal - Medical University of Graz
Gewählte Publikation:
Röblreiter, T.
Prevalence of vaccination against pneumococcal infection, influenza and pertussis in hospitalized cardiologic and pneumologic patients at the University Hospital LKH Graz
Humanmedizin; [ Diplomarbeit ] Graz Medical University; 2018. pp. 67
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- Autor*innen der Med Uni Graz:
- Betreuer*innen:
- Flick Holger
- Taucher Elisabeth
- Altmetrics:
- Abstract:
- Aim: According to the “Impfplan Österreich 2017” created by the Austrian federal ministry of health and the S3 Guidelines for prevention of pneumonia vaccination against influenza, pertussis and pneumococcal infection is recommended for all cardiologic and pneumologic patients. As a result of the vaccinations these vulnerable group of patients should be protected from exacerbation of their underlying chronic diseases and from the increased mortality related to infections. However, research data about the prevalence of pneumococcal, influenza and pertussis vaccination within cardiologic and pneumologic patient groups from German speaking area and especially Austria are not available and our study gives insight into possible vaccination gaps. Methods: We analysed data of 200 cardiologic and pneumologic patients hospitalized between 1st and 31st of April 2017 at the University Hospital Graz (department of pneumology or cardiology) with a questionnaire and a MEDOCS research. Results: We analysed data of 200 patients, 133 male (66.5%) and 67 female (33.5%). Of these, 148 (74.0%) were cardiologic patients and 52 (26.0%) pneumologic patients. Out of the 200 included patients only 17.5% were vaccinated against influenza, 11.5% against pertussis and 18.5% against pneumococcal infection. 30.3% of the influenza unvaccinated patients but only 17.1% of the vaccinated patients suffered from acute rhinopharyngitis between 1st of December 2016 and 31st of March 2017. Vaccinated patients also suffered less from respiratory tract infections in this period (28.6% vaccinated versus 43.0% not vaccinated). The other vaccinations did not show such big differences in the appearance of acute rhinopharyngitis (30.4% vaccinated against pertussis versus 27.7% not vaccinated; 32.4% vaccinated against pneumococcal infection versus 27.0% not vaccinated) and respiratory tract infections (47.8% vaccinated against pertussis versus 39.6% not vaccinated; 37.8% vaccinated against pneumococcal infection versus 41.1% not vaccinated). Conclusions: In hard contrast to guidelines, official recommendations and the broad scientific evidence about the benefit of vaccination in high risk groups, the overall vaccination rate for influenza, pertussis and pneumococcal immunization was in our cohort remarkable low. These findings show that many patients that would actually benefit from these vaccinations are in a large part not convinced of the advantages or rather not enlightened about the exact effects of the vaccinations. All in all, the results underline the urgent need to improve and increase the immunization prevalence of cardiologic and pneumologic patients and to strengthen their awareness of the significance of the vaccinations to protect them from infection related complications and the deterioration of their underlying diseases.