Effectiveness of the 2010-2011 seasonal influenza vaccine in preventing confirmed influenza hospitalizations in adults: A case-case comparison, case-control study

Introduction: We estimated influenza vaccine effectiveness (IVE) to prevent laboratory-confirmed influenza-related hospitalizations in patients 18 years old or older during the 2010-2011 influenza season. Methods: We conducted a prospective case-control study in five hospitals, in Valencia, Spain. Study subjects were consecutive emergency hospitalizations for predefined conditions associated with an influenza-like illness episode <8 days before admission. Patients were considered immunized if vaccinated >= 14 days before influenza-like illness onset. Cases were those with a real time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) positive for influenza and controls were RT-PCR positive for other respiratory viruses. Adjusted WE was estimated as 100 x (1 - adjusted odds ratio). To account for indication bias we computed adjusted IVE for respiratory syncytial virus related hospitalizations. Results: Of 826 eligible hospitalized patients, 102 (12%) were influenza positive and considered cases, and 116(14%) were positive for other respiratory viruses and considered controls. Adjusted IVE was 54% (95% confidence interval, 11-76%). By subgroup, adjusted WE was 53% (4-77%) for those with high-risk conditions, 59% (16-79%) for those >= 60 years of age, and, 54% (4-79%) for those >= 60 years of age with high-risk conditions. No influenza vaccine effect was observed against respiratory syncytial virus related hospitalization. Conclusion: Influenza vaccination was associated with a significant reduction on the risk of confirmed influenza hospitalization, irrespective of age and high-risk conditions. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights