Community Scoop »Thousands of Kiwis with asthma at risk

Press Release – GSK New Zealand

Thousands of adult kiwis with common respiratory diseases such as asthma risk life-threatening complications of whooping cough this winter.Thousands of Kiwis with asthma are at risk during the outbreak of whooping cough

Thousands of adult kiwis with common respiratory diseases such as asthma risk life-threatening complications of whooping cough this winter.

The warning comes with the nation experiencing a nationwide pertussis epidemic with more than 4,690 New Zealanders having contracted the disease since its appearance in 2017[1].

Pertussis (whooping cough) is a common and life-threatening illness caused by the bacteria. Bordetella pertussis, rival of measles among the most contagious diseases for the human population[2][3][4].

Pertussis rates are higher among Maori and Pasifika aged 15 and over[5], with rates of respiratory diseases such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) also constitutes a significant health problem in these populations[6].

At the international level, the prevalence of asthma is high in New Zealand, with one in eight adults (12%) reporting taking asthma medications[7]. New Zealand also has one of the highest hospitalization rates for asthma in the OECD countries and pre-existing asthma may increase the hospitalization rate for whooping cough[8][9].

Similarly, COPD, which includes emphysema, chronic bronchitis and chronic asthma, is the fourth leading cause of death in the country[10]. COPD with a higher Māori hospitalization rate in one in seven adults over 45 years of age[11]. The rate of hospitalization resulting from this respiratory disease is also five times higher in the most disadvantaged areas than in the least disadvantaged.[12].

Dr. Helen Petousis-Harris, a vaccinologist and senior lecturer in the Department of General Medicine and Primary Health Care at the University of Auckland, says that although it is not usually serious in the healthy adults, whooping cough may be badociated with serious complications in patients with existing chronic diseases such as obesity, asthma or COPD, and can be easily pbaded on to others vulnerable populations, including infants before the end of their first vaccination.

She says that while there is growing awareness of the need for flu shots at this time of year, the burden of whooping cough in the adult population is largely underweight. estimated and that there is a clear reason to extend vaccination throughout life to prevent the disease in this group.[13].

"Although the focus is often on the protection of infants, there are other vulnerable members of the community who are at risk of serious health complications from whooping cough.

"For a person with asthma or COPD, contracting whooping cough could be fatal because these pre-existing respiratory diseases make it more vulnerable.

"In the same way, we recommend protecting infants against pertussis exposure, so it is important that adults with asthma or COPD, as well as their loved ones, consider getting immunized against this highly contagious disease." She says.

Dr. Petousis-Harris said that pertussis immunity from childhood vaccines would decrease over time and require booster shots to help prevent the disease later in life.[14][15].

She says exposure to colds and flu in winter can have an additional impact on the body's ability to protect itself.

According to the latest figures from the Institute of Environmental Science and Research, more than half (51%) of the 2,110 cases of pertussis reported in the last twelve months were adults aged 20 years and older, age group accounting for 45% of hospitalizations. Maori and Pasifika make up the bulk of adults with the disease[16].

According to Dr. Petousis-Harris, local research on Kiwi sensitization to pertussis suggests that they do not understand how easily the disease can be transmitted.

Research revealed that almost all respondents (96%) had heard about pertussis; however, only a quarter of respondents reported being vaccinated against whooping cough and receiving a booster shot.[17].

29% reported being vaccinated but not receiving a booster, and almost half (46%) of adult NZs did not know if they had been vaccinated or had received a booster against pertussis.[18].

The guidelines recommend booster vaccines for whooping cough in adults at risk of serious illness or complications related to the disease, such as those with chronic respiratory conditions, every ten years.[19][20][21].

As part of a new proposal, PHARMAC is expected to expand access to pertussis vaccine in adults aged 45 and 65, pregnant women in the second and third trimesters, as well as parents and caregivers. primary caregivers of infants admitted to a neonatal intensive care unit or Specialized Care Unit for more than three days[22][23].

Dr. Petousis-Harris said that adults also risked other complications, such as rib fractures, weight loss and a syncope of urinary incontinence resulting in a severe cough.[24].

"It is possible to reduce the risk of contracting and spreading this disease. If you are pregnant, if you are in close contact with a baby or if you have asthma or COPD, you should talk to your healthcare professional about the possibility of getting vaccinated, "she says. .

-Ends-

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Footnotes:

[1] CSR Pertussis Report, May 2019. Available here. Accessed July 4, 2019.

[2] Walid Kandeil, Petar Atanasov, Diana Avramioti, Josephine Fu, Nadia Demarteau and Xiao Li (2019): The burden of whooping cough in the elderly: what is the role of immunization? Systematic review of the literature, Expert Review of Vaccines, DOI: 10.1080 / 14760584.2019.1588727

[3] Advisory Center on Immunization. Pertussis (whooping cough) – fact sheet for parents and caregivers. Available at the following address: http://www.immune.org.nz/sites/default/files/resources/DiseasePertussisImac20130226V03Final_0.pdf. Accessed March 31, 2016

[4] Kandeil W; expert review of vaccines; 2019; 1-17 (v1.0)

[5] CSR Pertussis Report, May 2019. Available here. Accessed July 4, 2019.

[6] Telfar Barnard, L. and Zhang, J. (2018). The impact of respiratory diseases in New Zealand: updated 2018.

Wellington: Foundation for Asthma and Respiratory Tract New Zealand.

[7] Ministry of Health. 2017. Annual Data Explorer 2016/17: New Zealand Health Survey. URL: https://minhealthnz.shinyapps.io/nz-health-survey-2017-18-annual-data-explorer/_w_0811ceee/_w_d09f2086/#!/home (accessed November 6, 2018).

[8] Walid Kandeil, Petar Atanasov, Diana Avramioti, Josephine Fu, Nadia Demarteau and Xiao Li (2019) The burden of whooping cough in the elderly: what is the role of immunization? Systematic review of the literature, Expert Review of Vaccines, 18: 5, 439-455, DOI: 10.1080 / 14760584.2019.1588727

[9] https://www.hqsc.govt.nz/our-programmes/health-quality-evaluation/projects/atlas-of-healthcare-variation/asthma/#[REFERENCES] [10] Broad, J. B. and Jackson, R. T. (2003). Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and Lung Cancer in New Zealand. Available at https://researchspace.auckland.ac.nz/bitstream/handle/2292/20838/NZ.broad_COPD.lung.cancer_2003.pdf?sequence=3. Accessed July 4, 2019

[11] Foundation for asthma and NZ respiratory tract. Respiratory disease in New Zealand. Available at https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/badets.asthmafoundation.org.nz/documents/Respiratory-Disease-in-NZ.pdf (accessed July 2, 2019).

[12] Telfar Barnard, L. and Zhang, J. (2018). The impact of respiratory diseases in New Zealand: updated 2018.

Wellington: Foundation for Asthma and Respiratory Tract New Zealand.

[13] Wirsing von Konig 2005 Dis J Infection; 24: S87-S92 (v1.0)

[14] Wendelboe AM et al Pediatric Dis 2007; 26: 293-99 (v1.0)

[15] Wirsing von Konig CH et al. Lancet Infect Dis. 2002; 2: 744-750

[16] CSR Pertussis Report, May 2019. Available here. Accessed July 4, 2019.

[17]GSK Pertussis Study, October 2017.

[18]GSK Pertussis Study, October 2017.

[19] Proposal by PHARMAC to modify vaccines funded in the national immunization schedule. Available here. Accessed June 17, 2019.

[20] PHARMAC decision to expand access to pertussis vaccine. Available here. Accessed June 17, 2019.

[21]CDC Pertussis – Clinical Complications 2017. Accessed 19/12/2015.

[22] Proposal by PHARMAC to modify vaccines funded in the national immunization schedule. Available here. Accessed June 17, 2019.

[23] PHARMAC decision to expand access to pertussis vaccine. Available here. Accessed June 17, 2019.

[24]CDC Pertussis – Clinical Complications 2017. Accessed 19/12/2015.

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