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Vaccinia scars associated with better survival for adults. An observational study from Guinea-Bissau

Aaby, Peter ; Gustafson, Per LU ; Roth, Adam LU ; Rodrigues, Amabelia ; Fernandes, Manuel ; Sodemann, Morten ; Holmgren, Birgitta ; Benn, Christine Stabell ; Garly, May-Lill and Lisse, Ida Maria , et al. (2006) In Vaccine 24(29-30). p.5718-5718
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Live vaccines including BCG and measles may have non-targeted beneficial effects on childhood survival in areas with high mortality. The authors therefore undertook a survey of vaccinia scars to evaluate subsequent mortality. SUBJECTS: Based on a population census, a cohort of 1893 adults in urban Guinea-Bissau was examined in 1998 and followed until 2002. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: All cause mortality, excluding accidents. RESULTS: The median age of vaccinia vaccinations had been 16-18 years. Adults with a vaccinia scar had a mortality ratio (MR) of 0.60 (0.41-0.87) compared to those without any scar. The effect was stronger for women. Mortality decreased with each additional vaccinia scar (MR=0.73 (0.56-0.95)). Among 502... (More)
BACKGROUND: Live vaccines including BCG and measles may have non-targeted beneficial effects on childhood survival in areas with high mortality. The authors therefore undertook a survey of vaccinia scars to evaluate subsequent mortality. SUBJECTS: Based on a population census, a cohort of 1893 adults in urban Guinea-Bissau was examined in 1998 and followed until 2002. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: All cause mortality, excluding accidents. RESULTS: The median age of vaccinia vaccinations had been 16-18 years. Adults with a vaccinia scar had a mortality ratio (MR) of 0.60 (0.41-0.87) compared to those without any scar. The effect was stronger for women. Mortality decreased with each additional vaccinia scar (MR=0.73 (0.56-0.95)). Among 502 individuals with information on HIV infection, the age-adjusted HIV-2 prevalence was 2.45 (1.06-5.65) for those with a vaccinia scar. Control for district, ethnic group, schooling, place of birth, quality of housing and HIV status had little effect on the estimate. Since vaccinia and BCG scars could have been confused, mortality for adults with vaccinia and/or BCG scar was compared to those without, the MR being 0.61 (0.41-0.89). CONCLUSION: Known cultural or socio-economic factors possibly associated with access to vaccination had no influence on the mortality ratio for having a vaccinia scar. Hence, vaccinia vaccination may have a prolonged beneficial effect on adult survival. (Less)
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organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Adult mortality, Beneficial effects of vaccination, HIV-2, Non-targeted effects of vaccination, Smallpox vaccination, Vaccinia
in
Vaccine
volume
24
issue
29-30
pages
5718 - 5718
publisher
Elsevier
external identifiers
  • pmid:16720061
  • scopus:33745438144
  • pmid:16720061
ISSN
1873-2518
DOI
10.1016/j.vaccine.2006.04.045
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
e81f8e68-c56a-46d5-81cc-f386ca2c4ea3 (old id 1135592)
date added to LUP
2016-04-04 08:21:12
date last changed
2022-04-07 23:51:06
@article{e81f8e68-c56a-46d5-81cc-f386ca2c4ea3,
  abstract     = {{BACKGROUND: Live vaccines including BCG and measles may have non-targeted beneficial effects on childhood survival in areas with high mortality. The authors therefore undertook a survey of vaccinia scars to evaluate subsequent mortality. SUBJECTS: Based on a population census, a cohort of 1893 adults in urban Guinea-Bissau was examined in 1998 and followed until 2002. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: All cause mortality, excluding accidents. RESULTS: The median age of vaccinia vaccinations had been 16-18 years. Adults with a vaccinia scar had a mortality ratio (MR) of 0.60 (0.41-0.87) compared to those without any scar. The effect was stronger for women. Mortality decreased with each additional vaccinia scar (MR=0.73 (0.56-0.95)). Among 502 individuals with information on HIV infection, the age-adjusted HIV-2 prevalence was 2.45 (1.06-5.65) for those with a vaccinia scar. Control for district, ethnic group, schooling, place of birth, quality of housing and HIV status had little effect on the estimate. Since vaccinia and BCG scars could have been confused, mortality for adults with vaccinia and/or BCG scar was compared to those without, the MR being 0.61 (0.41-0.89). CONCLUSION: Known cultural or socio-economic factors possibly associated with access to vaccination had no influence on the mortality ratio for having a vaccinia scar. Hence, vaccinia vaccination may have a prolonged beneficial effect on adult survival.}},
  author       = {{Aaby, Peter and Gustafson, Per and Roth, Adam and Rodrigues, Amabelia and Fernandes, Manuel and Sodemann, Morten and Holmgren, Birgitta and Benn, Christine Stabell and Garly, May-Lill and Lisse, Ida Maria and Jensen, Henrik}},
  issn         = {{1873-2518}},
  keywords     = {{Adult mortality; Beneficial effects of vaccination; HIV-2; Non-targeted effects of vaccination; Smallpox vaccination; Vaccinia}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{29-30}},
  pages        = {{5718--5718}},
  publisher    = {{Elsevier}},
  series       = {{Vaccine}},
  title        = {{Vaccinia scars associated with better survival for adults. An observational study from Guinea-Bissau}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.vaccine.2006.04.045}},
  doi          = {{10.1016/j.vaccine.2006.04.045}},
  volume       = {{24}},
  year         = {{2006}},
}