The effect of influenza vaccination on the rate of dementia amongst older adults

Background and Purpose

Previous studies have reported conflicting results regarding the association between influenza vaccination and dementia. This association was investigated in a nationwide register-based cohort study.

Methods

Using nationwide registries, dementia-free adults aged ≥65 years in Denmark from 2002 to 2018 without previous influenza vaccinations were included. Poisson regression facilitated confounder-adjusted comparisons of dementia rates for ever versus never vaccinated, number of vaccinations and within/after 5 years from first vaccination. Sensitivity analyses included stratification on age and sex.

Results

Vaccination during follow-up was associated with a slightly higher rate of dementia when adjusted for sociodemographic factors and comorbidities, both within and after the first 5 years from first vaccination (incidence rate ratio [IRR] 1.04; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.03–1.05). The rate of dementia decreased with increasing number of vaccinations. The highest rate was amongst those with only one vaccination (IRR 1.14; 95% CI 1.12–1.17) and the rate of dementia was only decreased amongst those with six or more vaccinations (IRR 0.95; 95% CI 0.93–0.97). Applying the same models to control outcomes of hip fracture and cancer resulted in higher rates amongst vaccinated people of 6% and 7%, respectively. Vaccinated people also had a 10% higher mortality rate.

Discussion

Our results do not support the case for a preventive effect of influenza vaccination on the risk of dementia in the general population, as reported by some previous studies. However, the higher dementia rate amongst vaccinated people found in this study is probably due to residual confounding, indicated by a higher rate for control outcomes and mortality.