Danielle Kirelik, BS
Washington, District of Columbia
Lillian Dawit, MD, Danielle Kirelik, BS, Lauren Pascual, MPH, BS, Marie Borum, MD, EdD, MPH
George Washington University, Washington, DC
Introduction: It is recommended that all patients with IBD receive annual influenza vaccinations. Compared to age-matched healthy individuals, patients with IBD, particularly those on immunosuppressants, are at an increased risk of acquiring influenza. Furthermore, IBD patients who acquire influenza are more likely to be hospitalized or have a superimposed pneumonia. It is uncertain if IBD patients are consistently counselled about or administered the influenza vaccine. This study investigated rates of annual influenza vaccination in IBD patients at a university medical center.
Methods: A retrospective chart review evaluating all IBD patients seen in the gastroenterology clinic during a five year period was performed. Patient gender, age, race, IBD diagnosis, and documentation of flu vaccine within one year of the most recent gastroenterology visit were collected. A database was generated using Microsoft Excel. Statistical analysis using Fisher’s Exact Test was performed with significance set at p< 0.05. The study was approved by the institutional IRB.
Results: 392 IBD patients (218 females, 174 males) were analyzed. 206 were self-reported as White (52.55%), 99 African-American (25.25%), 11 Asian (2.81%), 35 other (8.93%), and 41 declined to disclose (10.46%). Mean age was 44.44 (range: 20-82). 279 had Ulcerative Colitis (71.17%), 96 Crohn’s (24.49%), 11 Microscopic colitis (11, 2.81%), and 6 Indeterminate colitis (1.53%). 102 of 392 (26.02%) patients had a documented flu vaccine. There was a significant difference in the flu vaccination rate between patients age ≥50 (35.56%) and age < 50 (21.01%) (p=0.0024). No significant difference was found between gender (p=0.274), race (White vs. AA) (p=0.274), IBD diagnosis (UC vs. Crohn’s) (p=0.416), or medications (biologics/immunomodulators vs. other) (p=0.907).
Discussion: This study revealed that, despite current guidelines, there may be insufficient rates of influenza vaccinations among IBD patients. Individuals who were ≥50 more often had documented flu vaccination compared to younger patients. While this study it limited based upon size and single institution design, the results emphasize the need to improve administration of flu vaccine in all IBD patients. Recommendation for flu vaccination and / or assessment of the receipt of the vaccine should be performed by gastroenterologists to ensure optimal IBD health care delivery.
Citation: Lillian Dawit, MD, Danielle Kirelik, BS, Lauren Pascual, MPH, BS, Marie Borum, MD, EdD, MPH. P1399 - KEEP IBD FLU FREE: ANNUAL INFLUENZA VACCINATION IS INCONSISTENTLY ADMINISTERED TO INFLAMMATORY BOWEL DISEASE PATIENTS. Program No. P1399. ACG 2019 Annual Scientific Meeting Abstracts. San Antonio, Texas: American College of Gastroenterology.