Vaccine Success is Limited in Rheumatoid Arthritis Save

Numerous guidelines (ACR, ACIP/CDC, ATS, NICE) all call for timely vaccinations in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and those receiving immunosuppressives or biologics. 

Dixon and colleagues in the UK assessed the level of adherence to these guidelines in the UK, specifically looking at the uptake of influenza and pneumococcal vaccinations in patients with RA.

A retrospective cohort study of adult RA patients (N = 15,724) treated with non-biologic immunosuppressive therapy was drawn from a large primary care database.

Overall, 80% of patients received at least one influenza vaccination, and 50% of patients received a pneumococcal vaccination, during a mean followup of 5.3 years. In those below 65 years (N = 9,969), 73% received influenza vaccination, and in those over 65 years (N = 5,755), 91% received the influenza vaccination.

Less success was seen with pneumococcal vaccination, wherein 43% of patients < 65 yrs and 61% of patients over 65 years received at least one pneumococcal vaccination.

Those vaccinated were older, had more comorbidities and visited the GP more often.

One in five patients received no influenza vaccinations, and one in two patients received no pneumonia vaccine over five years of follow-up, suggesting a need for greater use and education on the uptake of vaccinations in patients with RA.