Like other high-risk groups, adults with diabetes benefit from having a flu vaccination every year, regardless of age. It has been found that both first and repeat influenza vaccinations reduce all-cause mortality and hospitalisations for complications of respiratory infections. Researchers from the University Medical Center, Utrecht, looked into the effectiveness of first and repeat influenza vaccinations in 9238 adults with diabetes during the 1999-2000 influenza A epidemic in the Netherlands. Forty-four percent were between the ages of 18 and 64 years old and 56 percent were 65 years or older. Overall, 131 hospitalisations and 61 deaths were recorded during the study period. These 192 cases were compared with 1561 matched controls within the group of diabetes patients who remained well. One hundred forty-one of the 192 diabetic subjects (73 percent) and 1339 of the 1561 controls (86 percent) were vaccinated against influenza. Influenza vaccination was associated with a 56 percent reduction in any complication, a 54 percent reduction in hospitalisations, and 58 percent reduction in deaths. There was no significant difference in vaccine efficacy between those vaccinated for the first time and those who received a repeat vaccination. The above data supports the value of annual influenza vaccination in adults with diabetes, as is currently recommended. The researchers call for renewed efforts to increase vaccination rates in this high-risk group.
Diabetes Care,
July 2006