Albin Saad Abdullah H, Alhaddad Mousa J, Almulaify Mohammed S, Alwesaibi Hussain A, Alshahrani Thamer H, Alamoudi Marwan M, Alsalman Ahmed S
Internal Medicine, Dammam Medical Complex, Dammam, SAU.
Adult Hematology and Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, King Fahad Specialist Hospital, Dammam, Dammam, SAU.
Cureus. 2025 Jun 11;17(6):e85744. doi: 10.7759/cureus.85744. eCollection 2025 Jun.
The influenza vaccine is recommended annually for patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). This study aimed to report the influenza vaccination rate among RA and SLE patients who are following up at Dammam Medical Complex (DMC), Dammam, Saudi Arabia, to evaluate their understanding of the influenza vaccine and its benefits, and to assess their attitudes regarding it, including any concerns or misconceptions.
This was a cross-sectional study. It included all patients with RA and SLE who were following up in the rheumatology clinic at DMC. The study was conducted between November 2024 and February 2025. Data was collected through a self-administered paper questionnaire in the clinic. Descriptive statistics, including mean, standard deviation, counts, and percentages, were computed as required. For comparative analyses, the Chi-square test was employed for categorical variables, while the two-sample t-test was used for continuous variables.
A total of 261 patients participated in the study, including 191 RA patients (73.2%) and 70 SLE patients (26.8%). Out of the total, 131 patients (50.2%) reported that they had been vaccinated against influenza in the past. However, only 72 patients (27.6%) confirmed they had received the vaccine within the last two seasons, whereas a significant majority, 189 patients (72.4%), had not been vaccinated during this timeframe. Regarding the perception of the influenza vaccination's safety and effectiveness, 133 patients (51.0%) affirmed that they believed it to be safe and effective. When asked if the seasonal influenza vaccine is the best method to avoid complications from influenza, 153 patients (58.6%) agreed. Most patients (n = 140, 53.6%) were aware that seasonal influenza vaccination is recommended for individuals with chronic diseases.
Our study revealed a low vaccination rate among RA and SLE patients in the last two seasons. To minimize the risk of complications, it is crucial to increase awareness about the benefits of influenza vaccination.
每年都建议类风湿性关节炎（RA）和系统性红斑狼疮（SLE）患者接种流感疫苗。本研究旨在报告在沙特阿拉伯达曼达曼医疗中心（DMC）接受随访的RA和SLE患者的流感疫苗接种率，评估他们对流感疫苗及其益处的了解，并评估他们对疫苗的态度，包括任何担忧或误解。
这是一项横断面研究。研究对象包括所有在DMC风湿病诊所接受随访的RA和SLE患者。研究于2024年11月至2025年2月进行。通过在诊所自行填写纸质问卷收集数据。根据需要计算描述性统计数据，包括均值、标准差、计数和百分比。对于比较分析，分类变量采用卡方检验，连续变量采用两样本t检验。
共有261名患者参与研究，其中191名RA患者（73.2%）和70名SLE患者（26.8%）。在所有患者中，131名患者（50.2%）报告他们过去接种过流感疫苗。然而，只有72名患者（27.6%）确认他们在过去两个季节内接种了疫苗，而在此期间，绝大多数患者，即189名患者（72.4%）没有接种疫苗。关于对流感疫苗安全性和有效性的认知，133名患者（51.0%）确认他们认为疫苗是安全有效的。当被问及季节性流感疫苗是否是避免流感并发症的最佳方法时，153名患者（58.6%）表示同意。大多数患者（n = 140，53.6%）知道慢性病患者建议接种季节性流感疫苗。
我们的研究显示，在过去两个季节中，RA和SLE患者的疫苗接种率较低。为了将并发症风险降至最低，提高对流感疫苗益处的认识至关重要。
