Raise Urgency on Influenza

Focusing on Adults 65 years of age and older.

Influenza

Older Adults are More at Risk of Being Seriously Affected¹

While adults aged 65+ represent approximately 15% of the Canadian population, they account for:²

Up to 70% of flu-related hospitalizations^3-8
Up to 91% of flu-related deaths^3-8

Older adults are the most vulnerable to influenza, due to age-related factors that increase their susceptibility to infections and complications.^9,10

The Broader Impact of Influenza

Elevated Risk of Death Among Older Adults with Underlying Conditions

For Canadians aged 65+ admitted to hospital with a respiratory complication, the risk for influenza-attributed death was:

5x greater among those with chronic heart diseases¹¹
12x greater among those with chronic lung diseases¹¹
20x greater among those with both chronic heart and lung diseases¹¹

The Broader Impact of Influenza

Decreased Functional Status

Loss of independence was the biggest fear of almost half of Canadian seniors polled¹²
Influenza can lead to long-lasting disability in seniors¹³
In one study, 25% of nursing home residents with influenza experienced decline in at least one major function (bathing, dressing, and mobility) for at least 3-4 months post- infection¹⁴

The Broader Impact of Influenza

Adults 65+ are at High Risk of Influenza Complications

Immunosenescence

A natural and progressive weakening of the immune system with age that can result in:

Higher incidence and severity of infectious diseases, including influenza^15,16
Lower strength and persistence of antibody responses to vaccines^15,16
Influenza vaccine effectiveness is about half of that in healthy adults¹⁷

Chronic Conditions

According to data from 2007, 74% of Canadian seniors (65+) reported at least one of the following high-risk chronic conditions:¹⁸

Asthma
Cancer
Emphysema or COPD
Diabetes
Heart disease
Stroke

References

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (2020a). Flu & People 65 Years and Older.
National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI), 2016. A Review of the Literature of High Dose Seasonal Influenza Vaccine for Adults 65 Years and Older.
PHAC. FluWatch. August 11-24, 2013.
PHAC. FluWatch. August 10-23, 2014.
PHAC. FluWatch. August 16-19, 2015.
PHAC. FluWatch. August 14-27, 2016.
PHAC. FluWatch. August 20-26, 2017.
PHAC. FluWatch. July 22-25, 2018.
Gavazzi G. & Krause K. (2002). Ageing and infection. Lancet Infect Dis, 2(11), 659–666.
Pera, A. et al. (2015). Immunosenescence: Implications for response to infection and vaccination in older people. Maturitas, 82(1), 50–55.
Schanzer, D. L., et al. (2008). Vaccine, 26(36), 4697-4703
Canadian Association of Retired Persons. (2016). Important Survey on Seniors’ Health. Retrieved from http://www.carp.ca/2017/07/03/preventing-seasonal-flu-canada.
Covinsky, et al. Loss of independence in activities of daily living in older adults hospitalized with medical illnesses: Increased vulnerability with age. The American Geriatrics Society, 51, 451-458. doi: 10.1046/j.1532- 5415.2003.51152.x
Barker, W. H., et al (1998). Archives of Internal Medicine, 158(6)..
Doherty, M., et al. (2016). Vaccine, 34(52), 6681-6690.
McElhaney, J. E., et al. (2016). Front Immunol, 7, 41.
National Advisory Committee on Immunization. (2019). Canadian Immunization Guide Chapter on Influenza and Statement on Seasonal Influenza Vaccine for 2019-2020.
Canadian Institute for Health Information, 2011. Seniors and the Health Care System: What Is the Impact of Multiple Chronic Conditions?