Audit of influenza and pneumococcal vaccination uptake in diabetic patients attending secondary care in the Northern Region

Aims To document uptake of influenza and pneumococcal vaccination in diabet ic patients attending secondary care in the Northern Region, and to explore influencing factors, Methods Diabetic patients attending out-patients in Middlesbrough, Gateshea d and Newcastle were questioned from October 1999 to March 2000. Physicians enquired about influenza and pneumococcal vaccination status using a stand ardized questionnaire. Data collected included age, year of diagnosis, dura tion of diabetes, type of diabetes, and the presence of other recognized in dications for vaccination. Results Two hundred and sixty-eight diabetic patients, 42% (113/268) with T ype 1 diabetes, 34% (91/268) with ischaemic heart disease, 10% (26/268) wit h chronic pulmonary disease (CPD) and 10% (27/268) with chronic renal disea se, were questioned. Thirty-five percent (93/268) of patients received both influenza and pneumococcal vaccines, 24% (64/268) received only influenza vaccine, and none received pneumococcus vaccine alone. Most vaccinees recei ved advice about influenza and pneumococcal vaccination from their general practitioner (90% (142/157) and 87% (81/93), respectively). A large number of non-vaccinees were unaware of the need for influenza and pneumococcal va ccination (69% (76/111) and 91% (159/175), respectively). Using multiple lo gistic regression co-existing CPD increased the odds of receiving influenza (odds ratio (OR) (95% confidence interval (CI)) = 1.99 (1.07-14.12)) or pn eumococcal (OR=3.77 (1.69-21.76)) vaccination. Furthermore, each 1-year inc rease in age increased the chance of receiving influenza or pneumococcal va ccination by 22% (OR=1.22 (1.09-1.67) and 29% (OR=1.29 (1.07-1.72)), respec tively. Conclusions Vaccination rates in these diabetic patients are unsatisfactory . Secondary care health professionals might increase rates by raising the t opic in consultations.