Influenza vaccination has a potential protective effect against adverse events within 120 days of a positive SARS-CoV-2 diagnosis, according to a study published in PLOS ONE. Researchers used a continuously updated EMR network to assess the possible benefits of influenza vaccination in mitigating critical adverse outcomes in patients testing positive for SARS-CoV-2. They screened de-identified records of 73.3 million patients retrospectively and created two cohorts with 37,377 patients who had or had not received influenza vaccination 6 months to 2 weeks prior to SARSCoV-2 diagnosis. Adverse outcomes within 30, 60, 90, and 120 days of a positive SARS-CoV-2 diagnosis were examined. Across all time points, patients testing positive for SARS-CoV-2 who received the influenza vaccine experienced significant reductions in sepsis and stroke. At 30, 90, and 120 days, these patients also had significantly lower ICU admissions; the finding approached significance at 60 days. Fewer deep vein thromboses were experienced at 60-120 days after a positive SARS-CoV-2 diagnosis among patients who had received the influenza vaccine. There were also significantly fewer ED visits at 90-120 days.
Some High-Priority Groups More Likely to Stop Taking PrEP
Younger individuals, African-American and Latinx individuals, and those with substance use disorders are more likely to have gaps in the continuum of care for preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV, according to a study published in JAMA Network Open. Investigators identified individuals who received PrEP care between July 2012 and March 2019; a total of 13,906 individuals linked to PrEP care were followed up until March 2019, HIV diagnosis, discontinuation of health plan membership, or death. More than one-half of individuals, or 52.2%, discontinued PrEP at least once after starting; 60.2% subsequently reinitiated PrEP. Older individuals were more likely to receive a PrEP prescription and initiate the therapy compared with those aged 18-25 (eg, age >45 years: HRs, 1.21 and 1.09, respectively) and were less likely to discontinue PrEP (HR, 0.46). African-American and Latinx individuals were less likely to receive a PrEP prescription (HRs, 0.74 and 0.88, respectively) and initiate PrEP than White patients (HRs, 0.87 and 0.90, respectively) and were more likely to discontinue PrEP (HRs, 1.36 and 1.33, respectively). The likelihood of being prescribed and initiating PrEP was lower, and the likelihood of discontinuing PrEP was higher, for women, those with lower neighborhoodlevel socioeconomic status, and those with a substance use disorder
