Uptake of influenza vaccine in ulcerative colitis

The incidence of vaccine-preventable-disease is increasing. Current practice guidelines recommend annual influenza vaccination for all inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients.

Using the Business Objects database of Clalit Health Services in the Tel Aviv district we identified all patients over 18 years-old with a diagnosis of ulcerative colitis (UC) on 31.12.05. This cohort was followed until 31.12.12. Subjects over age 50 without IBD who are also targeted for influenza vaccination served as controls. The uptake of annual influenza vaccination was recorded.

470 UC patients were included (241 (51.3%) males, age 50.4 ± 18.4 years, disease duration 158.9 ± 86.5 months), and 2960 controls. During the years 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012 the uptake of influenza vaccination was 101 (21.5%), 122 (26.0%), 147 (31.3%), 181 (38.5%), 177 (37.7%), 170 (36.2%) and 178 (37.9%) amongst UC patients, and 993 (33.5%), 1360 (45.9%), 1524 (51.5%), 1611 (54.4%), 1446 (48.9%), 1576 (53.2%) and 1557 (52.6%) amongst controls (p<0.0001 for every year). Independent predictors of vaccination included age (OR, 1.05; 95% CI, 1.03-1.06; p<0.001) and cardiovascular risk (OR, 1.81; 95% CI, 1.31-2.49; p<0.01).

Although uptake influenza vaccination is consistently lower in UC compared to controls, an upward trend was observed over the study period. Public health initiatives should target this high-risk population to promote immunization.