LATEBREAKER
COVID-19 Pandemic
Influenza vaccination in adults with and without COPD before and after the COVID-19 pandemic in the US: a national-level study (2017-2022) Marissa Wold* Marissa Wold S. Cristina Oancea
Introduction: The current literature has limited information regarding influenza vaccination (IV) among chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, and no information on the topic assessing the years following the pandemic. The majority of the literature prior to the pandemic assesses the safety and efficacy of the IV in COPD patients, rather than focusing on an examination of actual vaccination behavior. Little is known about IV behavior in COPD patients in the years prior to and following the pandemic.
Methods: This cross-sectional study used Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey (BRFSS) data from the years 2017 to 2022 (n=1,471,405, 51% males). The exposure was COPD diagnosis and outcome was IV in the last year. Confounders were chosen based on previous literature and included in a directed, acyclic graph (DAG) for analysis. Weighted and adjusted logistic regression models were conducted overall and by the significant effect modifiers sex and year.
Results: Having COPD significantly increases the weighted adjusted odds (WAO) of IV when compared to not having COPD, overall, by sex, and by year. For the years 2017-2022, among men with COPD (6%), and among women with COPD (7.5%), the WAO (95% CI) of IV were:
1.33(1.18,1.48);1.24(1.11,1.38);1.53(1.37,1.71);1.51(1.29,1.75);1.22(1.07,1.38);1.30(1.16,1.46) and
1.27(1.16,1.40);1.36(1.23,1.49);1.26(1.15,1.39);1.07(0.95,1.20);1.23(1.10,1.37);1.22(1.11,1.35)
when compared to men, and women, without COPD, respectively.
Conclusions: Study findings suggest males had significantly greater WAO ratios of receiving IV than females in 2019 and 2020, the year immediately pre- and then during-Covid 19 pandemic. Understanding the potential barriers for IV receipt by sex, especially during a pandemic, and especially for individuals impacted by COPD, is essential for better health interventions in times of a national crisis such as a pandemic.
