GENDER DIFFERENCES IN LOCAL AND SYSTEMIC REACTIONS TO INACTIVATED INFLUENZA VACCINE, ESTABLISHED BY A METAANALYSIS OF 14 INDEPENDENT STUDIES

In order to determine whether there is a difference between genders in reported adverse reactions to inactivated influenza vaccine, a comput erized database of serological studies was investigated. A standardize d questionnaire was used to evaluate vaccine reactogenicity, A total o f 1,800 vaccinees in 14 studies were analyzed separately for two age g roups (< 60 and greater than or equal to 60 years of age). Females rep orted significantly more local reactions than males, The pooled odds r atio for the outcome measure ''any local reaction'' was 0.32 (95% conf idence interval, 0.26-0.40, significant) and 0.54 (95% Cl, 0.41-0.70, significant) for young and elderly adults, respectively. Similar resul ts were obtained for the outcome measure ''any systemic reaction.'' Pr evious exposure to influenza or influenza vaccine had no influence on reactogenicity, There were no gender differences in sero-responses. In conclusion, gender should be regarded as a predictor of reported reac tions to influenza vaccine in both young and elderly adults and should be addressed in future study designs.