ABSTRACT
Objectives: Vaccination is paramount to reduce the health and economic impact of vaccine preventable diseases (VPDs), but are mainly focused on the immunization of children where COVID-19 demonstrated the importance of considering other age groups too. Providing healthcare decision makers with evidence-based assessments and recommendations is crucial but health technology assessments (HTAs) of older adult vaccination might be challenging. Method(s): Drawing upon the review of relevant literature and recent study cases, an expert panel elaborated on a list of HTA challenges and recommendations for older adult vaccination that could be instrumental to foster implementation of lifelong immunization. Result(s): Five challenges were identified for older adult vaccination: i) population characteristics, including immunosenescence, waning rates, comorbidities, changing functional status, and frailty;ii) limited surveillance data, causing a knowledge gap between population characteristics and vaccine effectiveness;iii) uncertainty in health economic value assessments - as a spill-over of the first two challenges;iv) prioritization of sub-groups might not align with health equity principles;and v) vaccination acceptance/hesitancy could prevent attaining optimal vaccination coverage and population benefits. Five concrete recommendations were issued in response to abovementioned challenges: i) introduce specific adult working groups within NITAGs as in the UK and US;ii) develop standardized/transferrable assessment methods adapted for older adults vaccination;iii) filling evidence gaps by the design of inclusive surveillance systems;iv) strengthen transparency of assessments to improve trust within healthcare and the society;and v) establish dedicated budget plans for prevention so that policy decisions - supported by adequate HTAs - can be implemented, inclusive older adults vaccination. Conclusion(s): Global interest in strengthening evidence-based policymaking for vaccination is increasing. It is therefore the right time to rethink how HTA could serve in fostering older adults' vaccination and to convey the message that implementing preventive measures and promoting lifelong immunization programs are instrumental to secure healthcare systems' sustainability. Copyright © 2022
ABSTRACT
Influencing behavioral patterns through primary prevention, possibly addressing more risk factors at a time, is the most effective means to tackle cardiovascular diseases. Many interdisciplinary prevention activities have been coordinated by community nurses outside of specialist centers, resulting in a more effective control of risk factors. Our study aims at describing the impact of an 18-month prevention and promotion, interdisciplinary intervention on lifestyle habits and cardiovascular risk. From December 2018 to May 2020, patients were recruited by 4 General Practitioners (GPs) in the Roman neighborhood of Torresina and received nutritional, physical and psychological counselling to learn healthy lifestyles. Until May 2020 patients had to self-manage their new healthy habits, but during this phase the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic broke out. Patients were assessed at baseline, 6, 12 and 18 months by a nutritionist, a physiotherapist, a psychologist, the 4 GPs and community nurses, and the cardiovascular risk score (CRS) was estimated at every examination. 76 patients were included, with a mean age of 54,6 years. Mean CRS showed a significant reduction between baseline and 12 months (from 4.9 to 3.8, p < 0.001), but this trend was not maintained at 18 months. As for variables included in the calculation of the cardiovascular risk score, both total cholesterol and systolic blood pressure significantly decreased at 6 months of follow up (respectively, from 211.1 to 192 (p < 0.001) and from 133.1 to 123.1(p < 0.001)). Nontheless, the reduction was maintained in the remaining points in time only for systolic blood pressure. Our interdisciplinary educational intervention in a primary care setting resulted in a CRS improvement at 12 months, but this changes where not maintained at 18 months. Community nurses were facilitators in improving health outcomes and patient's satisfaction in the described primary care setting. Key messages Our interdisciplinary educational intervention in a primary care setting resulted in a CRS improvement at 12 months, but this changes where not maintained at 18 months. Community nurses are facilitators in improving health outcomes and patient’s satisfaction in the described primary care setting.