Pertussis immunisation in infancy and atopic outcomes: A protocol for a population-based cohort study using linked...

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Allergy and Immunology
• Vaccinology
• Epidemiology

Background:

• IgE-mediated food allergy and asthma are significant health burdens in Australian children.
• These conditions share risk factors and often coexist.
• Previous studies suggest whole-cell pertussis vaccine may offer protection against food allergy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the potential population-level protective effects of whole-cell pertussis vaccination against atopic diseases.
• To compare hospital admission rates for asthma and other allergic conditions between children receiving whole-cell versus acellular pertussis vaccines.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of population-based record linkage data for children born in Western Australia and New South Wales between 1997-1999.
• Cox proportional hazard models and Andersen-Gill models to analyze time-to-first-event and time-to-recurrent events.
• Examination of hospitalizations for asthma, anaphylaxis, urticaria, and atopic dermatitis.

Main Results:

• The study aims to estimate hazard ratios for hospital admissions related to allergic diseases.
• Statistical methods will account for potential within-child dependence.
• Emergency department presentations will be analyzed separately.

Conclusions:

• This research will provide insights into the population-level impact of different pertussis vaccine schedules on allergic disease prevention.
• Findings could inform public health policy regarding preferential recommendation of whole-cell pertussis vaccine.
• Further investigation is needed to confirm the protective effects of whole-cell pertussis vaccination against atopic diseases at a population scale.