Demographic Disparities Are Reported for Influenza Vaccination Among People With and Without HIV

People with HIV are more likely than those without HIV to receive the influenza vaccine, according to the results of a recent study presented at IDWeek 2020. Demographics such as age, race, and sex influence vaccination rates, with discrepancies between people with and those without HIV.

The researchers examined influenza vaccinations during the 2013-2016 flu season via patient data from Kaiser Permanente Northern California. All adults with HIV presenting between 2013 and 2017 were identified and included in the study analysis (n=7422). Patients with HIV were then race-, age-, and sex-matched to adults without HIV (n=152,305).

The relative risk of influenza vaccinations by demographics was determined via Poisson regression models with repeated measures. HIV status, race, age, sex, unhealthy alcohol use, smoking status, calendar year, alcohol use disorder, census-based education and income, depression, insurance type, outpatient visits, and interaction terms for HIV by race, age group, and sex were all part of the multivariable models.

The results indicated that participants with HIV were more likely to be vaccinated than those without HIV, with a relative risk of 1.51 (95% CI, 1.50-1.54).

Black participants without HIV were less likely than White participants without HIV to be vaccinated, though these results were attenuated among participants with HIV. Older participants without HIV were more likely to be vaccinated against influenza than younger participants (18-29 years), though the relative risks among participants with HIV were attenuated.

Women without HIV were more likely to have received the vaccine than men without HIV, with a relative risk of 1.11 (95% CI, 1.09-1.13). Among the participants with HIV, men were more likely than women to have received the vaccine, with a relative risk of 0.94 (95% CI, 0.89-1.00).

“Targeted efforts are needed to continue to close the gap in demographic disparities regarding influenza vaccination rates among [people with HIV],” the study authors concluded.

—Leigh Precopio

Reference:

Levine-Hall T, Hood N, Alexeeff S, et al. Influenza vaccination prevalence among adults with and without HIV by race, age, and sex. Talk presented at: IDWeek 2020; October 21-25, 2020; Virtual. https://www.eventscribe.net/2020/IDWeek/fsPopup.asp?efp=VFhWUUpXVFA2ODg4&PosterID=292561&rnd=0.3512712&mode=posterinfo