Abstract
Based on previous observations during pandemics and seasonal epidemics, pregnant women are considered at risk of developing severe influenza outcomes after influenza infection. With the aim of preventing severe influenza illness, the World Health Organization (WHO) includes pregnant women as a target group for seasonal influenza vaccination. However, influenza vaccine uptake during pregnancy remains low in many countries, including Spain. The objectives of this study were to increase the evidence of pregnancy as a risk factor for severe influenza illness and to study the potential role of seasonal influenza vaccination in the prevention of severe outcomes in infected pregnant women. Using information from the surveillance of Severe Hospitalized Confirmed Influenza Cases (SHCIC) in Spain, from seasons 2010/11 to 2015/16, we estimated that pregnant women in our study had a relative risk of hospitalization with severe influenza nearly 7.8 times higher than non-pregnant women of reproductive age. Only 5 out of 167 pregnant women with known vaccination status in our study had been vaccinated (3.6%). Such extremely low vaccination coverage only allowed obtaining crude estimates suggesting a protective effect of the vaccine against influenza complications (ICU admission or death). Our overall results support that pregnant women could benefit from seasonal influenza vaccination, in line with national and international recommendations.
Highlights
Influenza epidemics have a major public health impact, causing an estimated three to five million cases of severe illness worldwide and approximately 250,000 to 500,000 deaths annually [1]
Severe influenza illness can lead to increased hospitalization and mortality rates during seasonal epidemics and pandemics, which result in a considerable healthcare and socio-economic burden [2]
Using the information from the Spanish influenza surveillance system at hospital level, we found no association between pregnancy and the risk of intensive care units (ICU) admission or death in women hospitalized with confirmed influenza infection
Summary
Influenza epidemics have a major public health impact, causing an estimated three to five million cases of severe illness worldwide and approximately 250,000 to 500,000 deaths annually [1]. Severe influenza illness can lead to increased hospitalization and mortality rates during seasonal epidemics and pandemics, which result in a considerable healthcare and socio-economic burden [2]. Children under 5 years of age and individuals with. Risk of severe seasonal influenza outcomes and role of vaccination in hospitalized pregnant women in Spain
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