Abstract
BackgroundAccording to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 5-20 % of people are affected by influenza annually, and influenza causes more than 200,000 hospitalizations each year. The purpose of this study is to estimate the prevalence of influenza vaccination among high risk adults in Kansas.MethodsThe 2013 Kansas BRFSS data (n = 20,712) were analyzed to assess the prevalence of receiving influenza vaccination among Kansas adults, overall and for selected demographic characteristics within the past 12 months. Crude and adjusted prevalence rate ratios were computed using univariate logistic regression models with influenza vaccination as the dependent variable and health conditions or high risk groups as the main independent variables; these models were then adjusted for potential confounding.ResultsOverall, influenza vaccination rate was lower than the Healthy People 2020 target (42.2 % vs. 80 %). The prevalence of receiving influenza vaccination was higher among adults 65 years and older compared to adults 64 years and younger after adjusting for gender, annual household income, education, marital status, insurance status, and race/ethnicity. Similarly, the prevalence of receiving influenza vaccination was higher among adults who have current asthma, or have ever been diagnosed with diabetes, high blood pressure, cancer (excluding skin), and COPD compared to those who did not have these health conditions, as well as pregnant women compared to women who were not pregnant.ConclusionsAlthough high risk groups have higher rates of influenza vaccination compared to low risk groups, more concerted efforts are needed to improve seasonal influenza vaccination in Kansas.
Highlights
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 5-20 % of people are affected by influenza annually, and influenza causes more than 200,000 hospitalizations each year
We examined five health conditions prone to influenza-related complications measured in Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) as defined by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) [11]
The prevalence of receiving influenza vaccination within the past 12 months were significantly higher among adults who have current asthma, or have ever been diagnosed with diabetes, high blood pressure, cancer, and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) compared to those who did not have these health conditions
Summary
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 5-20 % of people are affected by influenza annually, and influenza causes more than 200,000 hospitalizations each year. 5-20 % of people living in the United States are affected by influenza annually, and influenza causes more than 200,000 hospitalizations for influenza related illness and complications each year [1, 2]. It is difficult to have a more precise estimate of the annual mortality associated with influenza for several reasons including: influenza is not a reportable disease, Santaularia et al BMC Public Health (2016) 16:185 influenza is infrequently listed on death certificates [1], and the severity and duration of flu season varies from year to year. The influenza specific mortality rates reported annually are only a tip of the iceberg
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
