Voordouw 2003.
Study characteristics | ||
Methods | Retrospective cohort study conducted in the Netherlands during the 1996 to 1997 influenza season, in the community. Data source was the managed care organisation database. Follow‐up period was 1 September 1996 to 1 June 1997. For every individual who had received an influenza vaccination, 1 age‐sex matched unvaccinated control participant was randomly selected. | |
Participants | 17,822 community‐dwelling elderly with a permanent status in 1 of the practices (8911 treated and 8911 controls, all included in the analysis), 65 years or older | |
Interventions | Parenteral influenza vaccine. Vaccine strain matched the circulating strain. | |
Outcomes | Influenza as defined by International Classification of Primary Care (R80: proven influenza without pneumonia), pneumonia, deaths from all causes | |
Notes | The influenza season was relatively mild. Data were stratified by age and health status. Quantitative analysis was also performed only for the outcome 'deaths from all causes'. | |
Risk of bias | ||
Bias | Authors' judgement | Support for judgement |
Allocation concealment (selection bias) | Low risk | A ‐ Adequate |
ACS = acute coronary syndromes CAP = community‐acquired pneumonia CVA = cerebrovascular accident HCWs = healthcare workers ICD = International Classification of Diseases ILI = influenza‐like illness NI = neuroaminidase inhibitor OR = odds ratio RR = risk ratio URI = upper respiratory infection WHO = World Health Organization