Abstract
The objective of this study was to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on patients’ perceptions regarding infection risk and vaccination in subjects suffering from chronic diseases. A prospective observational multicentric study conducted from December 2020 to April 2021 in three French University Hospitals. Patients with chronic diseases were proposed to complete a questionnaire regarding the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on infectious risk knowledge and vaccination. A total of 1151 patients were included and analyzed (62% of which were people with diabetes). The COVID-19 pandemic increased awareness of infectious risks by 19.3%, significantly more in people with diabetes (23.2%, from 54.4% to 67.0%, p < 0.01) when compared to the other high-risk patients (12.5%, from 50.5% to 56.8%, p = 0.06). Respectively, 30.6% and 16.5% of patients not up-to-date for pneumococcal and flu vaccines reported wanting to update their vaccination due to the COVID-19 pandemic. By contrast, the proportion of patients against vaccines increased during the COVID-19 pandemic (6.0% vs. 9.5%, p < 0.01). The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a small increase in awareness regarding the risks of infection in patients with chronic diseases, including people with diabetes, but without any change in willingness to be vaccinated. This underlines the urgent need to sensibilize people with diabetes to infection risk and the importance of vaccination.
Highlights
Influenza and pneumococcal diseases are common infectious diseases with higher morbi-mortality in subjects living with chronic diseases, including diabetes
The subpopulation of people with diabetes was composed of 714 patients (62.0%), subjects were more often men (57.7 ± 16.0 vs. 50.4 ± 17.0, when compared to patients without diabetes, p < 0.01), older (57.7 ± 16.0 vs. 50.4 ± 17.0 years, p < 0.01), and had a longer history of chronic disease (17.4 ± 12.9 vs. 12.2 ± 10.2 years, p < 0.01)
The COVID-19 pandemic has been evolving for one year, our results demonstrate that awareness about infectious risks and vaccination coverage are still insufficient in chronic disease patients
Summary
Influenza and pneumococcal diseases are common infectious diseases with higher morbi-mortality in subjects living with chronic diseases, including diabetes. In people with diabetes, it is well demonstrated that both flu and pneumoniae are more severe, associated with higher risk of hospitalization, and mortality [1]. These infections could be prevented by vaccination in accordance with the recommendations published by the health authorities and the learned societies [2,3]. According to the ministry of health, in France for the winter of 2019, in populations at risk of severe forms of the disease, influenza vaccination coverage was less than 50%, whereas it should be.
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 callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
