Division of Geriatric Medicine, Dalhousie University, 5955 Veterans' Memorial Lane, Suite 3310 Veterans' Memorial Building, Halifax, NS, B3H 2E1, Canada.
Institut national de santé publique du Québec, Laval University, 2400 d'Estimauville, Quebec City, QC, G1E 7G9, Canada.
BMC Geriatr. 2019 Jun 26;19(1):178. doi: 10.1186/s12877-019-1180-5.
Older adults are at high risk for influenza-related complications including worsening frailty and function. We surveyed older Canadians to explore the impact of influenza and determine how influenza knowledge influences vaccination decision-making.
We disseminated an online survey through a national polling panel. The survey included questions about the respondents' influenza vaccination practices and knowledge about influenza. Using validated measures, they reported their frailty and functional status prior to the 2016/17 influenza season, during illness (if applicable), and following the season. Regression analyses were used to examine predictors of poor functional outcomes.
Five thousand and fourteen adults aged 65 and older completed the survey; mean age was 71.3 ± 5.17 years, 42.6% had one or more chronic conditions, 7.8% were vulnerable and 1.8% were frail. 67.9% reported receiving last season's influenza vaccine. Those who rarely/never receive the influenza vaccine were significantly less likely to correctly answer questions about influenza's impact than those who receive the vaccine more consistently. Of the 1035 (21.5%) who reported experiencing influenza or influenza-like illness last season, 40% indicated a recovery longer than 2 weeks, and one-fifth had health and function declines during this time. Additionally, 3.1% of those afflicted "never fully recovered". Older age, significant trouble with memory and having influenza/ILI were among the independent predictors of persistent declines in health and function.
Given that frailty and function are important considerations for older adults' well-being and independence, healthcare decision-makers must understand the potential for significant temporary and long-term impacts of influenza to make informed vaccine-related policies and recommendations.
老年人患流感相关并发症的风险较高，包括衰弱和功能恶化。我们调查了加拿大老年人，以探讨流感的影响，并确定流感知识如何影响疫苗接种决策。
我们通过全国民意调查小组在线发布了一项调查。该调查包括有关受访者流感疫苗接种情况和流感知识的问题。他们使用经过验证的措施，在 2016/17 流感季节之前、患病期间（如果适用）和季节之后报告他们的衰弱和功能状况。回归分析用于检查不良功能结果的预测因素。
5114 名 65 岁及以上的成年人完成了调查；平均年龄为 71.3±5.17 岁，42.6%有一个或多个慢性疾病，7.8%脆弱，1.8%衰弱。67.9%报告上一季接种了流感疫苗。与经常接种疫苗的人相比，很少/从不接种流感疫苗的人正确回答流感影响问题的可能性明显较低。在上一季报告患有流感或流感样疾病的 1035 人中（21.5%），40%表示康复时间超过 2 周，五分之一的人在此期间健康和功能下降。此外，3.1%的患者“从未完全康复”。年龄较大、记忆力严重问题以及患有流感/ILI 是健康和功能持续下降的独立预测因素。
鉴于衰弱和功能是老年人健康和独立的重要考虑因素，医疗保健决策者必须了解流感对健康造成的潜在重大短期和长期影响，以便做出明智的疫苗相关政策和建议。
