Influenza presents a considerable disease burden, particularly among adults over 65 years old. In this population, the disease is associated with high rates of infection, hospitalization, and mortality. The objective of this study was to assess the impact of influenza on older adults and to evaluate the effectiveness of influenza vaccines within this demographic. A literature search was conducted using PubMed to identify relevant English-language studies published from January 2000 to January 2024. The analysis indicated that influenza-related hospitalization rates (ranging from 10.1 to 308.3 per 100,000 persons) and all-cause excess mortality rates (1.1 to 228.2 per 100,000 persons) were notably high in older adults, although these rates varied over time and by location. Hospitalization rates due to influenza increased considerably after the age of 50 years, with the highest rates observed in individuals aged 85 years and older. Excess mortality attributable to influenza also rose with age, with rates between 17.9 and 223.5 per 100,000 persons in those over 75 years old. The effectiveness of influenza vaccines in preventing severe infections requiring hospitalization was found to be only 37% in individuals aged 65 years and older. The unadjuvanted, standard-dose influenza vaccine had an estimated effectiveness of just 25% against laboratory-confirmed influenza and between 37% and 43.7% in preventing hospitalizations. Therefore, considering the substantial burden of influenza and the limited efficacy of standard vaccines, the use of highly immunogenic influenza vaccines should be prioritized for older adults.
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, Eun Ja Kwon, Jeong Hye Kim, Kyuwon Kim, Jae Yong Lee, Hee Seung Hong, Seung Wook Hong, Jin Hwa Park, Sung Wook Hwang, Dong-Hoon Yang, Byong Duk Ye, Jeong-Sik Byeon, Seung-Jae Myung, Suk-Kyun Yang, Jeong Yun Park, Sang Hyoung Park It is important that inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients adhere to their prescribed medication regimens to avoid the repeat exacerbations, complications, or surgeries associated with this disorder. However, there are few studies on medication adherence in patients with IBD, especially in Asian populations. So, we analyzed the factors associated with medication adherence in Korean IBD patients.
Patients who had been diagnosed with Crohn’s disease (CD) or ulcerative colitis (UC) more than 6 months previously and receiving oral medications for IBD were enrolled. Medication adherence was measured using the Medical Adherence Reporting Scale (MARS-5), a self-reported medication adherence measurement tool.
Among 207 patients in the final study population, 125 (60.4%) had CD and 134 (64.7%) were men. The mean age was 39.63 years (SD, 13.16 years) and the mean disease duration was 10.09 years (SD, 6.33 years). The mean medication adherence score was 22.46 (SD, 2.86) out of 25, and 181 (87.4%) patients had score of 20 or higher. In multiple linear regression analysis, self-efficacy (β=0.341, P<0.001) and ≥3 dosing per day (β=-0.192 P=0.016) were revealed to be significant factors associated with medication adherence. Additionally, there was a positive correlation between self-efficacy and medication adherence (r=0.312, P<0.001). However, disease related knowledge, depression, and anxiety were not significantly associated with medication adherence.
To improve medication adherence among patients with IBD, a reduction in the
number of doses per day and an improved self-efficacy will be helpful.
, Mi-Youn Kim, Seunng-Hyun Nam, Ji-Yoon Cho, Ji-A Lee, Hee-Jung Oh, In-Sook Kang, Young-Ju Cho This study examined the efficacy and safety of a new β-lactam/β-lactamase inhibitor of Amoxicillin/Sulbactam(Sultamox®) compared with Amoxicillin/Clavulanic acid(Augmentin®) in Bronchial asthma with mixed infection.
A randomized, controlled study was conducted in 56 patients who are diagnosed as Bronchial asthma with mixed infection. The patients were randomly assigned to receive Sultamox® 1500mg or Augmentin® 1200mg intravenously 3 times daily during admission period. Sputum culture, CBC and blood chemistry were taken before, during and after treatment. Symptom scores for cough, sputum amount, sputum color and dyspnea were graded from 1(no symptom) to 4(severe symptom). All patients were evaluated for clinical efficacy on clinical, microbiological responses and side effects or toxicities.
In Sultamox® treatment group, reduction of total symptom score was 2.54 and it was 2.40 in the Augmentin® treatment group which revealed a statistically significant difference(p<0.01). The clinical success rate were 86.7%(n=30) for the 30 clinically evaluable patients who received Sultamox? and 73.1%(n=26) for the 26 clinically evaluable patients who received Augmetin?. Drug-related serious adverse events were not occurred in all patients.
Sultamox® and Augmentin® are as effective and safe as the comparative therapies for community acquired lower respiratory tract of asthma patients.
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