Evaluation of the Effect of Influenza Vaccine on the Development of Symptoms in SARS-CoV-2 Infection and Outcome in Patients Hospitalized due to COVID-19.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: COVID-19 is an infectious disease caused by SARS-CoV-2. It is unclear whether influenza vaccination reduces the severity of disease symptoms. Previous studies have suggested a beneficial effect of influenza vaccination on the severity of COVID-19. The aim of this study was to evaluate the possible protective effect of the influenza vaccine on the occurrence of SARS-CoV-2 infection symptoms and prognosis in patients hospitalized with COVID-19. METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort study of patients who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2, identified by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Chi-square tests, Kaplan-Meier analysis, and multivariate analysis were performed to assess the association between influenza vaccination and the presence of symptoms in hospitalized patients with COVID-19 and their outcome. RESULTS: In this study, 1712 patients received positive laboratory tests for SARS-CoV-2; influenza vaccination was a protective factor against the presence of characteristic COVID-19 symptoms such as polypnea, anosmia, dysgeusia, and fever (p < 0.001). Influenza-vaccinated patients had fewer days of hospitalization (p = 0.029). CONCLUSIONS: The findings of this study support that influenza vaccination is associated with a decrease in the number of symptoms in patients hospitalized due to COVID-19, with fewer days of hospitalization, but not with the outcome of disease.