Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 19, 2025
Author Spotlight: Utilizing Traditional Chinese Acupuncture of the Ear to Improve Sleep Disorders
Published on: August 18, 2023
Association between COVID-19 vaccination and first healthcare utilization for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease:
Sang Hyuk Kim1, Seung-Hun You2, Ju Won Lee2
1Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Korea University Guro Hospital, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Insights
COVID-19 vaccination significantly lowers the risk of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) healthcare utilization. This protective effect is particularly strong for mRNA vaccines and reduces emergency room visits and hospitalizations for COPD patients.
Area of Science:
- Pulmonology
- Immunology
- Public Health
Background:
- Growing uncertainties surround the impact of COVID-19 vaccination on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
- Previous research has not fully elucidated the association between COVID-19 vaccination and COPD outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between COVID-19 vaccination and the risk of healthcare utilization for COPD.
- To analyze the impact of vaccination on COPD-related emergency room visits and hospitalizations.
Main Methods:
- A large-scale cohort study utilizing COVID-19 immunization registry data.
- Assessed COVID-19 vaccination status as the exposure and first healthcare utilization for COPD as the outcome.
- Employed Cox proportional hazards models to determine the risk of COPD-related healthcare utilization.
Main Results:
- COVID-19 vaccination was associated with a significantly lower risk of first healthcare utilization for COPD (HR=0.46).
- The risk reduction was more pronounced for emergency room visits or hospitalizations (HR=0.24).
- The protective effect was less significant in frequent healthcare utilizers, but more evident in those with asthma or pulmonary tuberculosis.
Conclusions:
- COVID-19 vaccination is linked to a decreased risk of initial healthcare utilization for COPD.
- mRNA vaccines and reduced emergency visits/hospitalizations show a pronounced protective effect.
- Vaccination benefits are observed across various subgroups, including those with specific comorbidities.
Background:
Uncertainties about the impact of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) have been increasing. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the association between COVID-19 vaccination and COPD.
Methods:
We conducted a cohort study using COVID-19 immunization registry data. The exposure was COVID-19 vaccination status, and the outcome was first healthcare utilization for COPD. Cox proportional hazards models were used to assess the risk of first healthcare utilization for COPD.
Results:
Of the 27,595,469 individuals, 93.9 % had received COVID-19 vaccination. The risk of first healthcare utilization for COPD was significantly lower in vaccinated participants than in unvaccinated participants (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.46, 95 % confidence interval [CI] = 0.46-0.47). The decreased risk was more evident for first emergency room visits or hospitalizations for COPD (HR = 0.24, 95 % CI = 0.24-0.25). In the subgroup analysis, the decreased risk of first healthcare utilization for COPD was less significant in participants with frequent healthcare utilization, including the elderly, women, medical aid recipients, and those with comorbidities, than their counterparts. Of these, the smaller magnitude of the inverse association was observed in the pulmonary tuberculosis and asthma group. Regarding vaccination subtypes, the reduction was more prominent among those with a single vaccination (HR = 0.27, 95 % CI = 0.26-0.29) and mRNA recipients (HR = 0.35, 95 % CI = 0.35-0.36).
Conclusions:
COVID-19 vaccination is associated with a decreased risk of first healthcare utilization for COPD, particularly concerning mRNA vaccine and emergency room visits or hospitalizations. Among frequent healthcare utilizers, the effect of vaccination is more pronounced in individuals with pulmonary tuberculosis or asthma than in those without pulmonary tuberculosis or asthma.
More Related Videos
05:19Author Spotlight: An Effective Traditional Chinese Medicinal Treatment for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease with Abdominal Distension
Published on: September 1, 2023
04:03Author Spotlight: Evaluating the Therapeutic Efficacy of Moving Cupping Along Meridians for Acute Exacerbation of COPD
Published on: September 27, 2024
Related Concept Videos
01:22Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Smoking is a primary risk factor for COPD, with over 80% of patients having a history of it. Patients typically experience progressive dyspnea or labored breathing, frequent coughing, and recurrent pulmonary infections. Many eventually succumb to respiratory failure, characterized by...
01:27Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease-IV: Assessement and Diagnostic Studies
Medical History
01:20Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease-I: Introduction
01:20Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease-II: Pathophysiology
Chronic Inflammation
01:29Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease-V: Management
Smoking Cessation
01:20COPD: Pathogenesis and Clinical Features
The primary cause for the onset of COPD is cigarette smoking and exposure to air pollution. These hazardous factors initiate a chain reaction within the lungs, resulting in chronic inflammation, damage to the airways, and a...