Effectiveness of 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine on elderly long-term cancer survivors: a population-based propensity score matched cohort study

BMJ Open
Wen-Yen ChiouChung-Yi Li

Abstract

The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices in 2012 recommended the 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV23) for adults with high risk of pneumonia. However, its effectiveness in cancer survivors has not been investigated. Our aim was to investigate the effectiveness of PPSV23 in these patients. Population-based matched cohort study. Claim data were obtained from 1 million people registered with the National Health Insurance Research Database in 1996, and followed to 2010. People aged ≥75 years are eligible for receiving PPSV23 vaccination in Taiwan since 2007. Among the 30 249 patients with cancer, 6784 patients were 75 years or older eligible for PPSV23 vaccination. Among them, 1887 survived 5 or more years (ie, cancer survivors) after cancer diagnosis. We identified 377 cancer survivors who received PPSV23. A total of 754 propensity score matched unvaccinated patients were randomly selected. PPSV23 vaccination. The primary outcome was pneumonia hospitalisation. Potential confounders include influenza vaccination, vaccination period, cancer treatment modalities, comorbidities and sociodemographic variables. After 2 years of follow-up, vaccinated patients had a significantly lower incidence rate of pneumonia...Continue Reading

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CAPiTA
SAS
SPSS

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