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The Protective Effects of Influenza Vaccination in Elderly Patients with Breast Cancer in Taiwan: A Real-World Evidence-Based Study
Vaccines
  • Szu-Yuan Wu, Asia University
  • Ho-Jui Tung, Georgia Southern University, Jiann-Ping Hsu College of Public Health
  • Kuang-Hua Huang, China Medical University - Taiwan
  • Chiachi Bonnie Lee Lee, China Medical University - Taiwan
  • Tung-Han Tsai, China Medical University - Taiwan
  • Yu-Chia Chang, National Quemoy University
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
7-19-2022
DOI
10.3390/vaccines10071144
Abstract

In elderly patients with newly diagnosed breast cancer, clarity is lacking regarding the effects of influenza vaccines, particularly on clinical outcomes. This study conducted two nationwide, population-based, and propensity score-matched cohorts to estimate and compare the protective effects of influenza vaccine in elderly women and elderly patients with breast cancer. Data were derived from the National Health Insurance Research Database and Cancer Registry Database. Generalized estimating equations (GEEs) were used to compare outcomes between the vaccinated and unvaccinated cohorts. Adjusted odds ratios (aORs) were used to estimate the relative risks, and stratified analyses in the breast cancer cohort were performed to further evaluate elderly breast cancer patients undergoing a variety of adjuvant therapies. The GEE analysis showed that the aORs of death and hospitalization, including for influenza and pneumonia, respiratory diseases, respiratory failure, and heart disease, did not significantly decrease in vaccinated elderly patients with newly diagnosed breast cancer. Conversely, the aORs of all influenza-related clinical outcomes were significantly decreased in elderly women. No protective effects of influenza vaccination were found in the elderly patients with a newly diagnosed breast cancer. More studies focusing on identifying strategies to improve the real-world effectiveness of influenza vaccination to the immunocompromised are needed. Our clinical outcomes will be valuable for future public health policy establishment and shared decision making for influenza vaccine use in elderly patients with newly diagnosed breast cancer. According to our findings, regular influenza vaccine administration for elderly patients with newly diagnosed breast cancer may be reconsidered, with potential contraindications for vaccination. On the other hand, implementing the vaccination of close contacts of patients with breast cancer may be a more important strategy for enhancing protection of those fragile patients.

Comments

Georgia Southern University faculty member, Ho-Jui Tung co-authored The Protective Effects of Influenza Vaccination in Elderly Patients with Breast Cancer in Taiwan: A Real-World Evidence-Based Study.

Creative Commons License
Creative Commons Attribution 4.0
Citation Information
Szu-Yuan Wu, Ho-Jui Tung, Kuang-Hua Huang, Chiachi Bonnie Lee Lee, et al.. "The Protective Effects of Influenza Vaccination in Elderly Patients with Breast Cancer in Taiwan: A Real-World Evidence-Based Study" Vaccines Vol. 10 Iss. 7 (2022)
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/ho-jui-tung/54/