Elisabeth A. Dulfer , Konstantin Föhse , Esther J.M. Taks , Simone J.C.F.M. Moorlag , Eva L. Koekenbier , Josephine S. van de Maat , Jaap ten Oever , Jacobien J. Hoogerwerf , Cornelis H. van Werkhoven , Marc J.M. Bonten , Astrid van Hylckama Vlieg , Frits R. Rosendaal , Mihai G. Netea
{"title":"The effect of BCG vaccination in the elderly on infectious and non-infectious immune-mediated diseases","authors":"Elisabeth A. Dulfer , Konstantin Föhse , Esther J.M. Taks , Simone J.C.F.M. Moorlag , Eva L. Koekenbier , Josephine S. van de Maat , Jaap ten Oever , Jacobien J. Hoogerwerf , Cornelis H. van Werkhoven , Marc J.M. Bonten , Astrid van Hylckama Vlieg , Frits R. Rosendaal , Mihai G. Netea","doi":"10.1016/j.jinf.2024.106344","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objectives</h3><div>Previous research has suggested beneficial heterologous effects of the Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine on non-mycobacterial infections and other immune-mediated diseases. During the COVID-19 pandemic, randomized controlled trials BCG-PRIME (n = 5349) and BCG-CORONA-ELDERLY (n = 1907) investigated the impact of BCG on SARS-CoV-2 infections in older individuals. We extended the follow-up in these studies by one year (BCG-Long Term study), to assess the overall effects of BCG vaccination on infectious and immune-mediated diseases in individuals aged over 60.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Prior participants were invited to complete a one-year follow-up survey after their completion of the original trial. Data on vaccinations, hospital admissions, infectious episodes, and new medical diagnoses were collected and compared between BCG- and placebo-vaccinated participants. Variables of interest were combined with the previous trial databases and analyzed using relative risks (RR) and an adjusted Cox regression model accounting for participation probability.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>The response in the follow-up survey was 60%, including 4238 individuals in the final analysis (2317 had received BCG and 1921 placebo). Incidence and severity of infectious diseases and other diagnoses, including cardiovascular diseases and cancer, did not differ between the groups. The proportion of individuals hospitalized for cardiac arrhythmias after BCG was two-fold higher than reported after placebo (1.6% versus 0.8%, RR 2.0 (95% confidence interval 1.1–3.6)). Cardiac arrhythmia-related hospitalizations were primarily due to exacerbation of pre-existing arrhythmias.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>The results of the present study confirm that BCG has no relevant effect on non-mycobacterial infectious diseases and other immune-mediated diseases in a population of generally mycobacteria-naïve older Dutch individuals in the two years following vaccination. However, our study suggests that BCG may aggravate pre-existing cardiac arrhythmia, which warrants further investigation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50180,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Infection","volume":"89 6","pages":"Article 106344"},"PeriodicalIF":14.3000,"publicationDate":"2024-11-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Journal of Infection","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0163445324002792","RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q1","JCRName":"INFECTIOUS DISEASES","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Objectives
Previous research has suggested beneficial heterologous effects of the Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine on non-mycobacterial infections and other immune-mediated diseases. During the COVID-19 pandemic, randomized controlled trials BCG-PRIME (n = 5349) and BCG-CORONA-ELDERLY (n = 1907) investigated the impact of BCG on SARS-CoV-2 infections in older individuals. We extended the follow-up in these studies by one year (BCG-Long Term study), to assess the overall effects of BCG vaccination on infectious and immune-mediated diseases in individuals aged over 60.
Methods
Prior participants were invited to complete a one-year follow-up survey after their completion of the original trial. Data on vaccinations, hospital admissions, infectious episodes, and new medical diagnoses were collected and compared between BCG- and placebo-vaccinated participants. Variables of interest were combined with the previous trial databases and analyzed using relative risks (RR) and an adjusted Cox regression model accounting for participation probability.
Results
The response in the follow-up survey was 60%, including 4238 individuals in the final analysis (2317 had received BCG and 1921 placebo). Incidence and severity of infectious diseases and other diagnoses, including cardiovascular diseases and cancer, did not differ between the groups. The proportion of individuals hospitalized for cardiac arrhythmias after BCG was two-fold higher than reported after placebo (1.6% versus 0.8%, RR 2.0 (95% confidence interval 1.1–3.6)). Cardiac arrhythmia-related hospitalizations were primarily due to exacerbation of pre-existing arrhythmias.
Conclusion
The results of the present study confirm that BCG has no relevant effect on non-mycobacterial infectious diseases and other immune-mediated diseases in a population of generally mycobacteria-naïve older Dutch individuals in the two years following vaccination. However, our study suggests that BCG may aggravate pre-existing cardiac arrhythmia, which warrants further investigation.
期刊介绍:
The Journal of Infection publishes original papers on all aspects of infection - clinical, microbiological and epidemiological. The Journal seeks to bring together knowledge from all specialties involved in infection research and clinical practice, and present the best work in the ever-changing field of infection.
Each issue brings you Editorials that describe current or controversial topics of interest, high quality Reviews to keep you in touch with the latest developments in specific fields of interest, an Epidemiology section reporting studies in the hospital and the general community, and a lively correspondence section.