Clinical effect of different pneumococcal vaccination schedules in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD): long-term follow-up results

Purpose: To evaluate the clinical effect of different vaccination schedules with pneumococcal vaccine in COPD patients after a 4-year follow-up. Materials and Methods: Patients with COPD have been assigned to 4 groups: group I – subjects received PCV13 (n=32, age: 63.6(8.7) years), II – PPV23 (n=23, 59(12.4)), III – PPV23 and PCV13 one year apart (n=32, 59(12.4)), IV – PCV13 and PPV23 2 months apart (n=25, 60.5(12.1)). Results: The number of COPD exacerbations was as follows: group I - 2 [1; 3] at baseline and [0; 2] at year 4 of the follow-up*; group II - [1; 3] at baseline and 2 [1; 2] at year 4 of the follow-up; group III – 2 [1; 3] at baseline and 2 [1; 2] at year 4 of the follow-up; group IV - 2 [1; 3] at baseline and 0 [0; 2] at year 4 of the follow-up ***. The number of courses of antimicrobial chemotherapy: group I – 2 [1; 2] at baseline and 1 [0; 3] at year 4 of the follow-up; group II – 2 [1; 2,5] at baseline and 2 [1; 3] at year 4 of the follow-up; group III - 2 [1; 3] at baseline and 1 [0; 2] at year 4 of the follow-up; group IV - 2 [1; 3] at baseline and 0 [0; 1] at year 4 of the follow-up ***. The number of hospital admissions: group I - 1 [0; 1] at baseline and 0 [0; 0,5]** at year 4 of the follow-up; group II - 1 [0; 1] at baseline and 0 [0; 2] at year 4 of the follow-up; group III - 1 [0; 1,25] at baseline and 0 [0; 1] at year 4 of the follow-up; group IV - 1 [0; 1] at baseline and 0 [0; 0] at year 4 of the follow-up***. *- Fisher’s exact test. Conclusion: After a 4-year follow-up the best effect of the vaccine was observed in the PCV13/PPV23 group.