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Research

Efficacy of pneumococcal vaccination in adults: a meta-analysis

Anke Huss, Pippa Scott, Andreas E. Stuck, Caroline Trotter and Matthias Egger
CMAJ January 06, 2009 180 (1) 48-58; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1503/cmaj.080734
Anke Huss PhD
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Pippa Scott MSc
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Andreas E. Stuck MD
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Caroline Trotter PhD
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Matthias Egger MD MSc
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Abstract

Background: Clinical trials and meta-analyses have produced conflicting results of the efficacy of unconjugated pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine in adults. We sought to evaluate the vaccine's efficacy on clinical outcomes as well as the methodologic quality of the trials.

Methods: We searched several databases and all bibliographies of reviews and meta-analyses for clinical trials that compared pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine with a control. We examined rates of pneumonia and death, taking the methodologic quality of the trials into consideration.

Results: We included 22 trials involving 101 507 participants: 11 trials reported on presumptive pneumococcal pneumonia, 19 on all-cause pneumonia and 12 on all-cause mortality. The current 23-valent vaccine was used in 8 trials. The relative risk (RR) was 0.64 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.43–0.96) for presumptive pneumococcal pneumonia and 0.73 (95% CI 0.56–0.94) for all-cause pneumonia. There was significant heterogeneity between the trials reporting on presumptive pneumonia (I2 = 74%, p < 0.001) and between those reporting on all-cause pneumonia (I2 = 90%, p < 0.001). The RR for all-cause mortality was 0.97 (95% CI 0.87–1.09), with moderate heterogeneity between trials (I2 = 44%, p = 0.053). Trial quality, especially regarding double blinding, explained a substantial proportion of the heterogeneity in the trials reporting on presumptive pneumonia and all-cause pneumonia. There was little evidence of vaccine protection in trials of higher methodologic quality (RR 1.20, 95% CI 0.75–1.92, for presumptive pneumonia; and 1.19, 95% CI 0.95–1.49, for all-cause pneumonia in double-blind trials; p for heterogeneity > 0.05). The results for all-cause mortality in double-blind trials were similar to those in all trials combined. There was little evidence of vaccine protection among elderly patients or adults with chronic illness in analyses of all trials (RR 1.04, 95% CI 0.78–1.38, for presumptive pneumococcal pneumonia; 0.89, 95% CI 0.69–1.14, for all-cause pneumonia; and 1.00, 95% CI 0.87–1.14, for all-cause mortality).

Interpretation: Pneumococcal vaccination does not appear to be effective in preventing pneumonia, even in populations for whom the vaccine is currently recommended.

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Canadian Medical Association Journal: 180 (1)
CMAJ
Vol. 180, Issue 1
6 Jan 2009
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Efficacy of pneumococcal vaccination in adults: a meta-analysis
Anke Huss, Pippa Scott, Andreas E. Stuck, Caroline Trotter, Matthias Egger
CMAJ Jan 2009, 180 (1) 48-58; DOI: 10.1503/cmaj.080734

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Efficacy of pneumococcal vaccination in adults: a meta-analysis
Anke Huss, Pippa Scott, Andreas E. Stuck, Caroline Trotter, Matthias Egger
CMAJ Jan 2009, 180 (1) 48-58; DOI: 10.1503/cmaj.080734
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