Influenza Vaccination for Secondary Prevention of Cardiovascular Events: A Systematic Review

ABSTRACTBackground: Influenza is a common respiratory infection that may cause complications, including cardiovascular events. Influenza illness has been shown to double the risk of myocardial infarction, with the highest risk among patients with established cardiovascular disease. Vaccination against influenza has been associated with reductions in myocardial infarction, cerebrovascular disease, and death.Objective: To evaluate the evidence for influenza vaccination as a strategy to reduce cardiovascular events specifically in patients with established cardiovascular disease.Data Sources and Study Selection: MEDLINE, Embase, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials were searched with the terms “influenza vaccine” and “cardiovascular disease”. Included in this review were randomized controlled trials (RCTs), nonrandomized studies, and meta-analyses that compared influenza vaccination against control in patients with established cardiovascular disease and that reported clinically meaningful cardiovascular outcomes (defined as cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, and stroke).Data Extraction and Synthesis: The search yielded 10 studies (3 nonrandomized studies, 5 RCTs, and 2 meta-analyses). The nonrandomized studies and the RCTs had inconsistent results with respect to cardio - vascular death and adverse cardiovascular events. The 2 meta-analyses, which included the same 4 RCTs involving patients with established cardiovascular disease, showed that the influenza vaccine reduced cardiovascu lar death by about 50% relative to control. Vaccination also reduced major cardiovascular events by about 43%; the reduction was greater (54%) in the subgroup of patients with recent (≤ 1 year) acute coronary syndrome. However, these data are potentially confounded by small sample sizes, low event rates, and variable outcome reporting. There was also high clinical heterogeneity among the studies, which may not reflect contemporary practice.Conclusions: Given the limitations of these data, it is unclear whether the cardiovascular benefit with influenza vaccination in patients with cardiovascular disease is a true effect. Nevertheless, because of the potential benefit and the low risk of adverse events, the annual influenza vaccine should be recommended for all patients with established cardiovascular disease.RÉSUMÉContexte : La grippe est une infection courante des voies respiratoires qui peut causer des complications, notamment des événements cardiovasculaires. On a montré que la grippe double les risques d’infarctus du myocarde. De plus, les patients atteints d’une maladie cardiovasculaire sont les plus menacés. La vaccination contre la grippe a été associée à une réduction des cas d’infarctus du myocarde, de maladie cérébrovasculaire et de décès.Objectif : Évaluer les données probantes montrant que la vaccination contre la grippe permet de réduire le nombre d’événements cardiovasculaires chez les patients déjà atteints d’une maladie cardiovasculaire.Sources des données et sélection des études : Les bases de données MEDLINE et Embase et le Registre central Cochrane des essais aléatoires ont été interrogés en utilisant les termes « vaccin antigrippal » et « maladie cardiovasculaire ». Les études retenues pour la présente revue de la littérature devaient être des essais cliniques à répartition aléatoire, des essais cliniques non aléatoires ou des méta-analyses. De plus, elles devaient comparer les résultats de patients vaccinés contre la grippe et atteints d’une maladie cardiaque à ceux d’un groupe témoin qui étaient aussi atteints d’une maladie cardiaque. Enfin, elles devaient signaler des résultats cardiovasculaires cliniquement significatifs (définis comme un décès d’origine cardiovasculaire, un infarctus du myocarde ou un accident vasculaire cérébral).Extraction et synthèse des données : Dix études répondaient aux critères de recherche (trois essais cliniques non aléatoires, cinq essais cliniques à répartition aléatoire et deux méta-analyses). Les essais cliniques non aléatoires et les essais cliniques à répartition aléatoire présentaient des résultats variables en ce qui touche aux décès d’origine cardiovasculaire et aux événements cardiovasculaires indésirables. Les deux méta-analyses, qui avaient en commun quatre essais cliniques à répartition aléatoire concernant des patients atteints d’une maladie cardiovasculaire, montraient que le vaccin contre la grippe permettait de réduire le nombre de décès d’origine cardiovasculaire d’environ 50 % comparativement au groupe témoin. La vaccination a aussi réduit le nombre d’événements cardiovasculaires graves d’environ 43 %; le pourcentage était plus important (54 %) dans le sous-groupe de patients ayant récemment (à l’intérieur d’un an) souffert d’un syndrome coronarien aigu. Cependant, ces résultats sont potentiellement faussés par la petite taille des échantillons, les faibles taux d’événements et la variabilité avec laquelle on signale les résultats. Il y avait aussi une forte hétérogénéité clinique entre les études, ce qui pourrait ne pas être représentatif de la pratique actuelle.Conclusions : En raison des limites de ces données, on ignore si le vaccin antigrippal offre réellement des effets cardiovasculaires bénéfiques pour les patients atteints d’une maladie cardiovasculaire. Néanmoins, compte tenu des avantages potentiels et du faible risque d’événements indésirables, le vaccin annuel contre la grippe doit être recommandé pour tous les patients atteints d’une maladie cardiovasculaire.

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Meta-analysis

ESC CardioMed ◽

10.1093/med/9780198784906.003.0746 ◽

2018 ◽

pp. 3092-3098

Author(s):

Natalie Staplin ◽

Colin Baigent

Keyword(s):

Myocardial Infarction ◽

Cardiovascular Disease ◽

Cardiovascular Diseases ◽

Statistical Method ◽

Cardiovascular Events ◽

Randomized Trials ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Treatment Decisions ◽

Meta Analyses ◽

Effective Treatments

The term ‘meta-analysis’ refers to a statistical method for combining the results of several (often many) studies or experiments in order to arrive at an overall conclusion about the size and variability of the measure of interest. In the context of cardiovascular disease, such studies are most often randomized trials of therapies for the prevention or treatment of cardiovascular events, such as myocardial infarction or stroke. The specialty has now witnessed several decades of success in identifying effective treatments for cardiovascular diseases, and the technique of meta-analysis of randomized trials has played an important role in this success. Not all meta-analyses are made equal, however, and it is important to be aware of the limitations of the method. This chapter considers how the technique can be best employed to guide treatment decisions, while also highlighting the limitations of meta-analysis when the information available is inadequate or potentially biased.

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Comparative Effect of Statins and Omega-3 Supplementation on Cardiovascular Events: Meta-Analysis and Network Meta-Analysis of 63 Randomized Controlled Trials Including 264,516 Participants

Nutrients ◽

10.3390/nu12082218 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 (8) ◽

pp. 2218 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Tung Hoang ◽

Jeongseon Kim

Keyword(s):

Myocardial Infarction ◽

Cardiovascular Disease ◽

Coronary Heart Disease ◽

Heart Disease ◽

Randomized Controlled Trials ◽

Cardiovascular Events ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Controlled Trials ◽

Omega 3 ◽

Randomized Controlled

Statins and omega-3 supplementation have been recommended for cardiovascular disease prevention, but comparative effects have not been investigated. This study aimed to summarize current evidence of the effect of statins and omega-3 supplementation on cardiovascular events. A meta-analysis and a network meta-analysis of 63 randomized controlled trials were used to calculate pooled relative risks (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the effects of specific statins and omega-3 supplementation compared with controls. Overall, the statin group showed significant risk reductions in total cardiovascular disease, coronary heart disease, myocardial infarction, and stroke; however, omega-3 supplementation significantly decreased the risks of coronary heart disease and myocardial infarction only, in the comparison with the control group. In comparison with omega-3 supplementation, pravastatin significantly reduced the risks of total cardiovascular disease (RR = 0.81, 95% CI = 0.72–0.91), coronary heart disease (RR = 0.75, 95% CI = 0.60–0.94), and myocardial infarction (RR = 0.71, 95% CI = 0.55–0.94). Risks of total cardiovascular disease, coronary heart disease, myocardial infarction, and stroke in the atorvastatin group were statistically lower than those in the omega-3 group, with RRs (95% CIs) of 0.80 (0.73–0.88), 0.64 (0.50–0.82), 0.75 (0.60–0.93), and 0.81 (0.66–0.99), respectively. The findings of this study suggest that pravastatin and atorvastatin may be more beneficial than omega-3 supplementation in reducing the risk of total cardiovascular disease, coronary heart disease, and myocardial infarction.

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A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials of Aspirin in Primary Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease.

Blood ◽

10.1182/blood.v114.22.174.174 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 114 (22) ◽

pp. 174-174

Author(s):

Nina C Raju ◽

Magda Sobieraj-Teague ◽

John W Eikelboom

Keyword(s):

Myocardial Infarction ◽

Cardiovascular Disease ◽

Primary Prevention ◽

Cardiovascular Mortality ◽

Cardiovascular Events ◽

Conflicts Of Interest ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Cochrane Library ◽

Controlled Trials ◽

All Cause Mortality

Abstract Abstract 174 Primary prevention with aspirin reduces the risk of non-fatal cardiovascular events but has not been demonstrated to reduce mortality. We performed an updated meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials of aspirin in primary prevention to obtain best estimates of the benefits and harm of aspirin compared with no aspirin with a focus on mortality. Eligible articles were identified by computerized search of MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane library and CINAHL databases, review of bibliographies of relevant publications and a related article search using PubMed. The outcomes of interest included all cause mortality, cardiovascular mortality, the composite of myocardial infarction, stroke or death, and bleeding. 2 reviewers independently extracted study information and data. Data were pooled from individual trials using the DerSimonian-Laird random-effects model and results are presented as relative risk (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). 8 studies comprising a total of 96,726 subjects were included. Aspirin reduced all-cause mortality (RR 0.94; 95%CI 0.88–1.00), the composite of myocardial infarction, stroke or cardiovascular death (RR 0.87; 95%CI 0.82–0.93), and myocardial infarction (RR 0.8; 95%CI 0.66–0.98) but did not significantly reduce cardiovascular mortality (RR 0.94; 95%CI 0.82–1.08) or stroke (RR 0.93; 95%CI 0.81–1.07). Aspirin increased the risk of major bleeding (RR; 1.69 95%CI 1.38–2.08), gastrointestinal bleeding (RR 1.38; 95%CI 1.16–1.65) and hemorrhagic stroke (RR 1.36; 95%CI 1.01–1.84). There was no interaction between subjects with or without diabetes for the outcomes of all cause mortality, cardiovascular mortality, the composite of myocardial infarction, stroke or death. Aspirin therapy in subjects with no prior history of cardiovascular disease reduces the risk of cardiovascular events, myocardial infarction and overall mortality. These benefits are achieved at the expense of increased bleeding. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

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Effect of Calcium Supplements on Risk of Myocardial Infarction and Cardiovascular Events: Meta-analysis

Journal of SAFOG with DVD ◽

10.5005/jsafog-6-1-62 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 6 (1) ◽

pp. 62-64

Author(s):

MJ Bolland ◽

A Avenell ◽

JA Baron ◽

A Grey ◽

GS MacLennan ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Myocardial Infarction ◽

Confidence Interval ◽

Cardiovascular Events ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Controlled Trials ◽

Patient Level Data ◽

Calcium Supplements ◽

Patient Level ◽

Level Data ◽

Meta Analyses

ABSTRACT Objective To investigate whether calcium supplements increase the risk of cardiovascular events. Design Patient level and trial level meta-analyses. Data Sources Medline, Embase, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (1966-March 2010), reference lists of meta-analyses of calcium supplements, and two clinical trial registries. Initial searches were carried out in November 2007, with electronic database searches repeated in March 2010. Study Selection Eligible studies were randomized, placebo controlled trials of calcium supplements (. 500 mg/day), with 100 or more participants of mean age more than 40 years and study duration more than 1 year. The lead authors of eligible trials supplied data. Cardiovascular outcomes were obtained from self-reports, hospital admissions and death certificates. Results Fifteen trials were eligible for inclusion, five with patient level data (8,151 participants, median follow-up 3.6 years, interquartile range 2.7-4.3 years) and 11 with trial level data (11,921 participants, mean duration 4.0 years). In the five studies contributing patient level data, 143 people allocated to calcium had a myocardial infarction compared with 111 allocated to placebo (hazard ratio 1.31, 95% confidence interval 1.02-1.67, p = 0.035). Nonsignificant increases occurred in the incidence of stroke (1.20, 0.96-1.50, p = 0.11), the composite end point of myocardial infarction, stroke, or sudden death (1.18, 1.00 to 1.39, p = 0.057), and death (1.09, 0.96-1.23, p = 0.18). The meta-analysis of trial level data showed similar results: 296 people had a myocardial infarction (166 allocated to calcium, 130 to placebo), with an increased incidence of myocardial infarction in those allocated to calcium (pooled relative risk 1.27, 95% confidence interval 1.01-1.59, p = 0.038). Conclusion Calcium supplements (without coadministered vitamin D) are associated with an increased risk of myocardial infarction. As calcium supplements are widely used these modest increases in risk of cardiovascular disease might translate into a large burden of disease in the population. A reassessment of the role of calcium supplements in the management of osteoporosis is warranted.

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eHealth interventions for reducing cardiovascular disease risk in men: a systematic review and meta-analysis

European Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing ◽

10.1093/eurjcn/zvab060.059 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 20 (Supplement_1) ◽

Author(s):

J Mcmahon ◽

DR Thompson ◽

MC Pascoe ◽

K Brazil ◽

CF Ski

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Cardiovascular Disease ◽

Behavior Change ◽

Systematic Reviews ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Database Search ◽

Controlled Trials ◽

Cochrane Central Register ◽

Cvd Risk ◽

Meta Analyses

Abstract Funding Acknowledgements Type of funding sources: Public grant(s) – National budget only. Main funding source(s): Department for the Economy (DfE) studentships Background. Men remain at a higher risk of developing cardiovascular disease (CVD) than women and behavioral risk factor modification is an important preventive measure. However, engaging men in behavior change interventions is challenging. eHealth interventions have the potential to address this gap, though their effectiveness for reducing CVD risk in men is unclear. Purpose. To conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the effectiveness of eHealth interventions for reducing CVD risk in men. Methods. This review was conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement and principles laid out by the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions. A search of published randomised controlled trials (RCTs) with no date restrictions up to July 2020 was conducted across five electronic databases: Cochrane Central register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), Medline, CINAHL Plus, PsycINFO and SCOPUS. Reference lists of relevant systematic reviews and meta-analyses were manually searched for additional trials not identified during the database search. Eligible studies were RCTs that focused on the use of eHealth to improve a minimum of two major CVD related risk factors in males aged 18 years or older. Results. A total of 3168 records were retrieved from the online database search, with nine trials meeting the inclusion criteria following screening and full-text assessment. Study quality ranged from low to unclear, with one trial at a high risk of bias. Compared to those in a control group or receiving printed materials, participants randomised to an eHealth intervention had statistically significant improvements in BMI (Z=-2.75, p = 0.01), body weight (Z=-3.25, p = 0.01), waist circumference (Z=-2.30, p = 0.02) and systolic (Z=-3.57, p = 0.01) and diastolic (Z=-3.56, p = 0.01) blood pressure. Though less evident, there were also improvements in physical activity and diet in favour of the intervention group. Conclusion. This was the first systematic review and meta-analysis conducted on the effectiveness of eHealth interventions for reducing CVD risk in men. This review suggests that eHealth interventions can reduce CVD risk in adult men through behavior change. However, we were unable to determine the association between intervention characteristics and outcomes. Also, overall, participant adherence to the intervention was poor. Both of these issues should be considered in future studies.

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Effects of Influenza Vaccine on Mortality and Cardiovascular Outcomes in Patients With Cardiovascular Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta‐Analysis

Journal of the American Heart Association ◽

10.1161/jaha.120.019636 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (6) ◽

Author(s):

Siva H. Yedlapati ◽

Safi U. Khan ◽

Swapna Talluri ◽

Ahmed N. Lone ◽

Muhammad Zia Khan ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cardiovascular Disease ◽

Influenza Vaccine ◽

Randomized Controlled Trials ◽

Cardiovascular Events ◽

Observational Studies ◽

Cardiovascular Outcomes ◽

Cochrane Library ◽

Major Adverse Cardiovascular Events ◽

Controlled Trials ◽

Randomized Controlled

Background Influenza infection causes considerable morbidity and mortality in patients with cardiovascular disease. We assessed the effects of the influenza vaccine on mortality and cardiovascular outcomes in patients with cardiovascular disease. Methods and Results We searched PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library through January 2020 for randomized controlled trials and observational studies assessing the effects of influenza vaccine on mortality and cardiovascular outcomes in patients with cardiovascular disease. Estimates were reported as random effects risk ratios (RRs) with 95% CIs. Analyses were stratified by study design into randomized controlled trials and observational studies. A total of 16 studies (n=237 058), including 4 randomized controlled trials (n=1667) and 12 observational studies (n=235 391), were identified. Participants' mean age was 69.2±7.01 years, 36.6% were women, 65.1% had hypertension, 31.1% had diabetes mellitus, and 23.4% were smokers. At a median follow‐up duration of 19.5 months, influenza vaccine was associated with a lower risk of all‐cause mortality (RR, 0.75; 95% CI, 0.60–0.93 [ P =0.01]), cardiovascular mortality (RR, 0.82; 95% CI, 0.80–0.84 [ P <0.001]), and major adverse cardiovascular events (RR, 0.87; 95% CI, 0.80–0.94 [ P <0.001]) compared with control. The use of the influenza vaccine was not associated with a statistically significant reduction of myocardial infarction (RR, 0.73; 95% CI, 0.49–1.09 [ P =0.12]) compared with control. Conclusions Data from both randomized controlled trials and observational studies support the use of the influenza vaccine in adults with cardiovascular disease to reduce mortality and cardiovascular events, as currently supported by clinical guidelines. Clinicians and health systems should continue to promote the influenza vaccine as part of comprehensive secondary prevention.

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The Adherence to Healthy Lifestyle Among Arab Patients With Cardiovascular Disease: Mixed-Method Review

Journal of Transcultural Nursing ◽

10.1177/10436596211035176 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 104365962110351

Author(s):

Albara Alomari ◽

Ibrahim Alananzeh ◽

Heidi Lord ◽

Ritin Fernandez

Keyword(s):

Cardiovascular Disease ◽

Mixed Method ◽

Healthy Lifestyle ◽

Cochrane Central Register ◽

Active Involvement ◽

Central Register ◽

Quantitative Results ◽

Lifestyle Recommendations ◽

Arab People ◽

Meta Analyses

Introduction Cardiovascular disease (CVD) accounts for 25% to 45% of deaths among Arab people. The purpose of this review was to investigate the level, predictors, motivators, and barriers to adherence to lifestyle recommendations among Arab patients with CVD. Method A systematic search of the literature was conducted and reported using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. MEDLINE, EMCARE, CINAHL, Scopus, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials were searched. Studies that explored adherence to a healthy lifestyle among Arab adult patients with CVD were included. Results Twelve studies were included. Quantitative results showed low adherence among Arab people with CVD. Qualitative synthesized results revealed that internal motivators, personal desire as well as structural drivers impact the patient’s ability to adhere to a healthy lifestyle. Discussion Multidimensional solutions that consider religion and culture and include active involvement of families are required to improve adherence.

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Comparison of effects of different dietary interventions on cognitive function in Alzheimer’s disease: protocol for systematic review and network meta-analysis

BMJ Open ◽

10.1136/bmjopen-2020-042997 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

pp. e042997

Author(s):

Lili Chen ◽

Xinhua Xu ◽

Huizhen Cao ◽

Hong Li

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Alzheimer’S Disease ◽

Alzheimer's Disease ◽

Cognitive Function ◽

Risk Of Bias ◽

Evaluation Framework ◽

Controlled Trials ◽

Cochrane Central Register ◽

Dietary Interventions ◽

Meta Analyses

IntroductionAlzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common neurodegenerative disease and is characterised by cognitive impairment. Non-pharmacological treatments such as diet therapy have been widely investigated in studies on AD. Given the synergistic effects of nutrients present in foods, considering overall dietary composition rather than focusing on a single nutrient may be more useful for evaluating the relationship between diet and AD cognition. The present study aimed to assess the efficacy of different dietary interventions (eg, ketogenic and Mediterranean diets) on cognitive function in patients with AD in a systematic review and pairwise and network meta-analyses of randomised controlled trials or clinical trials.Methods and analysisTwo reviewers will independently conduct searches of PubMed, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Embase, CINAHL, PsycINFO and China National Knowledge Infrastructure databases. Data will be extracted from selected studies and risk of bias will be assessed using the revised Cochrane risk-of-bias tool, and evidence quality will be assessed according to the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation framework. The primary outcome of interest is cognitive function in patients with AD; secondary outcomes include biochemical biomarkers of AD and oxidative stress and/or inﬂammatory biomarkers in cerebrospinal fluid or plasma. For each outcome, random-effects pairwise and network meta-analyses will be carried out to determine the pooled relative effect of each intervention relative to every other intervention.Ethics and disseminationAs this study is based solely on published literature, no ethics approval is required. The research will be published in a peer-reviewed journal.

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Abstract P019: A Single Model For Predicting Major Adverse Cardiovascular Events In Individuals With And Without History Of Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease: The Atherosclerosis Risk In Communities (aric) Study

Circulation ◽

10.1161/circ.143.suppl_1.p019 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 143 (Suppl_1) ◽

Author(s):

Yejin Mok ◽

Lena Mathews ◽

Ron C Hoogeveen ◽

Michael J Blaha ◽

Christie M Ballantyne ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Myocardial Infarction ◽

Cardiovascular Disease ◽

High Risk ◽

Risk Stratification ◽

Cardiovascular Events ◽

Major Adverse Cardiovascular Events ◽

Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease ◽

Single Model ◽

History Of ◽

Very High

Background: In the 2018 AHA/ACC Cholesterol guideline, risk stratification is an essential element. The use of a Pooled Cohort Equation (PCE) is recommended for individuals without atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD), and the new dichotomous classification of very high-risk vs. high-risk has been introduced for patients with ASCVD. These distinct risk stratification systems mainly rely on traditional risk factors, raising the possibility that a single model can predict major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) in persons with and without ASCVD. Methods: We studied 11,335 ARIC participants with (n=885) and without (n=10,450) a history of ASCVD (myocardial infarction, ischemic stroke, and symptomatic peripheral artery disease) at baseline (1996-98). We modeled factors in the PCE and the new classification for ASCVD patients (Figure legend) in a single CVD prediction model. We examined their associations with MACEs (myocardial infarction, stroke, and heart failure) using Cox models and evaluated the discrimination and calibration for a single model including those factors. Results: During a median follow-up of 18.4 years, there were 3,658 MACEs (3,105 in participants without ASCVD). In general, the factors in the PCE and the risk classification system for ASCVD patients were associated similarly with MACEs regardless of baseline ASCVD status, although age and systolic blood pressure showed significant interactions. A single model with these predictors and the relevant interaction terms showed good calibration and discrimination for those with and without ASCVD (c-statistic=0.729 and 0.704, respectively) (Figure). Conclusion: A single CVD prediction model performed well in persons with and without ASCVD. This approach will provide a specific predicted risk to ASCVD patients (instead of dichotomy of very high vs. high risk) and eliminate a practice gap between primary vs. secondary prevention due to different risk prediction tools.

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Determinants of influenza vaccine hesitancy among pregnant women in Europe: a systematic review

European Journal of Medical Research ◽

10.1186/s40001-021-00584-w ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 26 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Gbadebo Collins Adeyanju ◽

Elena Engel ◽

Laura Koch ◽

Tabea Ranzinger ◽

Imtiaz Bin Mohammed Shahid ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Influenza Vaccine ◽

Influenza Vaccination ◽

Pregnant Women ◽

Healthcare Providers ◽

Primary Objective ◽

World Health ◽

Vaccine Hesitancy ◽

Cochrane Central Register ◽

Adequate Knowledge

Abstract Background Pregnant women are at high risk for severe influenza. However, maternal influenza vaccination uptake in most World Health Organization (WHO) European Region countries remains low, despite the presence of widespread national recommendations. An influenza vaccination reduces influenza-associated morbidity and mortality in pregnancy, as well as providing newborns with protection in their first months. Potential determinants of vaccine hesitancy need to be identified to develop strategies that can increase vaccine acceptance and uptake among pregnant women. The primary objective of the systematic review is to identify the individual determinants of influenza vaccine hesitancy among pregnant women in Europe, and how to overcome the hesitancy. Methods Databases were searched for peer-reviewed qualitative and quantitative studies published between 2009 and 2019 inclusive. Databases included PubMed via MEDLINE, Cochrane Central Register for Controlled Trials, PsycINFO, SAGE Journals, Taylor and Francis and Springer nature. These covered themes including psychology, medicine, and public health. Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) approach, 11 studies were eligible and analyzed for significant determinants of influenza vaccine hesitancy among pregnant women in Europe. Results The most commonly reported factors were psychological aspects, for example concerns about safety and risks to mother and child, or general low risk perception of becoming ill from influenza. Doubts about the effectiveness of the vaccine and a lack of knowledge about this topic were further factors. There was also influence of contextual factors, such as healthcare workers not providing adequate knowledge about the influenza vaccine or the pregnant lady stating their antivaccine sentiment. Conclusion Health promotion that specifically increases knowledge among pregnant women about influenza and vaccination is important, supporting a valid risk judgment by the pregnant lady. The development of new information strategies for dialogue between healthcare providers and pregnant women should form part of this strategy.

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