Published online Dec 15, 2021. doi: 10.4239/wjd.v12.i12.2107
Peer-review started: May 12, 2021
First decision: July 4, 2021
Revised: July 13, 2021
Accepted: November 24, 2021
Article in press: November 24, 2021
Published online: December 15, 2021
Processing time: 217 Days and 17.8 Hours
Vaccination against influenza and pneumococcus is effective in reducing morbidity and mortality in patients with diabetes.
To investigate the prevalence of influenza and pneumococcal vaccinations and to search for the independent associates of vaccination in Turkish patients with diabetes.
In this cross-sectional, nationwide, multicenter study, adult patients with type 1 diabetes (T1DM) (n = 454) and type 2 diabetes (T2DM) (n = 4721), who were under follow-up for at least a year in the outpatient clinics, were consecutively enrolled. Sociodemographic, clinical, and laboratory parameters of patients were recorded. Vaccination histories were documented according to the self-statements of the patients.
Patients with T1DM and T2DM had similar vaccination rates for influenza (23.6% vs 21.2%; P = 0.240) and pneumococcus (8% vs 7%; P = 0.451) vaccinations. Longer diabetes duration and older age were the common independent associates of having vaccination for both types of diabetes patients. Higher education level, using statin treatment, and having optimal hemoglobin A1c levels were the common independent associates of influenza and pneumococcal vaccination in patients with T2DM.
TEMD Vaccination Study shows that patients with T1DM and T2DM had very low influenza and pneumococcal vaccination rates in Turkey. The lower rates of vaccination in certain populations urges the necessity of nationwide vaccination strategies targeting these populations.
Core Tip: The TEMD Vaccination Study is a cross-sectional, multicenter survey, which was carried out between April 1 and June 30, 2017, in 68 tertiary endocrine units from 37 cities throughout Turkey. The study revealed that the vaccination rates for pneumococcus and influenza were very low in patients with diabetes. Only 6.6% patients with type 1 diabetes (T1DM) and 5.8% patients with type 2 diabetes (T2DM) received both vaccines. Older age and longer diabetes duration were the common independent associates of vaccination in patients with T1DM and T2DM. The common independent associates of vaccination rates for T2DM were using statins, higher education and the lower hemoglobin A1c levels.