TY - JOUR

T1 - A Pragmatic Randomized Feasibility Trial of Influenza Vaccines

AU - Johansen, Niklas Dyrby

AU - Modin, Daniel

AU - Nealon, Joshua

AU - Samson, Sandrine

AU - Salamand, Camille

AU - Loiacono, Matthew M.

AU - Larsen, Carsten Schade

AU - Jensen, Anne Marie Reimer

AU - Landler, Nino Emanuel

AU - Claggett, Brian L.

AU - Solomon, Scott D.

AU - Landray, Martin J.

AU - Gislason, Gunnar H.

AU - Køber, Lars

AU - Jensen, Jens Ulrik Stæhr

AU - Sivapalan, Pradeesh

AU - Vestergaard, Lasse Skafte

AU - Valentiner-branth, Palle

AU - Krause, Tyra Grove

AU - Biering-sørensen, Tor

PY - 2023

Y1 - 2023

N2 - BackgroundThe relative vaccine effectiveness (rVE) of high-dose quadrivalent influenza vaccines (QIV-HD) versus standard-dose quadrivalent influenza vaccines (QIV-SD) against hospitalizations and mortality in the general older population has not been evaluated in an individually randomized trial. Because of the large sample size required, such a trial will need to incorporate innovative, pragmatic elements.MethodsWe conducted a pragmatic, open-label, active-controlled, randomized feasibility trial in Danish citizens aged 65 to 79 years during the 2021–2022 influenza season. Participants were randomly assigned 1:1 to receive QIV-HD or QIV-SD. Randomization was integrated into routine vaccination practice, and the trial relied solely on nationwide administrative health registries for data collection. Outcomes consisted of a feasibility assessment and descriptive rVE estimates.ResultsWe invited 34,000 persons to participate. A total of 12,477 randomly assigned participants were included in the final analyses. Mean (±SD) age was 71.7±3.9 years, and 5877 (47.1%) were women. Registry-based data collection was feasible, with complete follow-up data for 99.9% of participants. Baseline characteristics were comparable to those of the overall Danish population aged 65 to 79 years. The incidence of hospitalization for influenza or pneumonia was 10 (0.2%) of 6245 in the QIV-HD group and 28 (0.4%) of 6232 in the QIV-SD group (rVE, 64.4%; 95% confidence interval, 24.4 to 84.6). All-cause death occurred in 21 (0.3%) and 41 (0.7%) participants in the QIV-HD and QIV-SD groups, respectively (rVE, 48.9%; 95% confidence interval, 11.5 to 71.3).ConclusionsConducting a pragmatic randomized trial of QIV-HD versus QIV-SD using existing infrastructure and registry-based data collection was feasible. The findings of lower incidence of hospitalization for influenza or pneumonia and all-cause mortality in the QIV-HD group compared with the QIV-SD group require replication in a future, fully powered trial. (Funded by Sanofi; ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT05048589.)

AB - BackgroundThe relative vaccine effectiveness (rVE) of high-dose quadrivalent influenza vaccines (QIV-HD) versus standard-dose quadrivalent influenza vaccines (QIV-SD) against hospitalizations and mortality in the general older population has not been evaluated in an individually randomized trial. Because of the large sample size required, such a trial will need to incorporate innovative, pragmatic elements.MethodsWe conducted a pragmatic, open-label, active-controlled, randomized feasibility trial in Danish citizens aged 65 to 79 years during the 2021–2022 influenza season. Participants were randomly assigned 1:1 to receive QIV-HD or QIV-SD. Randomization was integrated into routine vaccination practice, and the trial relied solely on nationwide administrative health registries for data collection. Outcomes consisted of a feasibility assessment and descriptive rVE estimates.ResultsWe invited 34,000 persons to participate. A total of 12,477 randomly assigned participants were included in the final analyses. Mean (±SD) age was 71.7±3.9 years, and 5877 (47.1%) were women. Registry-based data collection was feasible, with complete follow-up data for 99.9% of participants. Baseline characteristics were comparable to those of the overall Danish population aged 65 to 79 years. The incidence of hospitalization for influenza or pneumonia was 10 (0.2%) of 6245 in the QIV-HD group and 28 (0.4%) of 6232 in the QIV-SD group (rVE, 64.4%; 95% confidence interval, 24.4 to 84.6). All-cause death occurred in 21 (0.3%) and 41 (0.7%) participants in the QIV-HD and QIV-SD groups, respectively (rVE, 48.9%; 95% confidence interval, 11.5 to 71.3).ConclusionsConducting a pragmatic randomized trial of QIV-HD versus QIV-SD using existing infrastructure and registry-based data collection was feasible. The findings of lower incidence of hospitalization for influenza or pneumonia and all-cause mortality in the QIV-HD group compared with the QIV-SD group require replication in a future, fully powered trial. (Funded by Sanofi; ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT05048589.)

U2 - 10.1056/EVIDoa2200206

DO - 10.1056/EVIDoa2200206

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 38320035

VL - 2

JO - NEJM Evidence

JF - NEJM Evidence

SN - 2766-5526

IS - 2

ER -