Among patients with CKD, younger adults, Black individuals, and those with adverse social determinants of health are less likely to receive an influenza vaccine, according to a study published in the American Journal of Kidney Diseases. Kunihiro Matsushita, MD, PhD, and colleagues identified risk factors for not receiving an influenza vaccine (non-vaccination) among patients with CKD (N=3,692). Between 2009 and 2020, the pooled mean vaccine uptake was 72%. Factors associated with non-vaccination included younger age (adjusted prevalence ratio [aPR], 2.16 for <50 vs ≥75 years), Black race (aPR, 1.58 vs White race), lower education (aPR, 1.20 for less than high school vs college graduate), lower annual household income (aPR, 1.26 for <$20,000 vs >$100,000), formerly married status (aPR, 1.22 vs currently married), and unemployed status (aPR, 1.13 vs employed). Non-vaccination was less likely among participants with diabetes (aPR, 0.80), COPD (aPR, 0.80), end-stage kidney disease (aPR, 0.64 vs EGFR ≥60 mL/min/1.73 m2), frailty (aPR, 0.86), and ideal physical activity (aPR, 0.90 vs physically inactive). Nephrology care “may represent an important opportunity to increase vaccine uptake in patients with CKD,” Dr. Matsushita and colleagues wrote.
