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Diabetics at Higher Risk of Pneumococcal Infection
posted 05/19/04
Researchers estimate that 24 of 1000 hospital admissions for
pneumococcal bacteremia may be attributed to diabetes.
People with diabetes face an increased risk of contracting a serious
pneumococcal bloodstream infection, Danish researchers report. The finding
supports the recommendation that diabetics benefit from pneumococcal
vaccination, especially if they have chronic heart or lung disease.
Dr. Reimar Wernich Thomsen of Aarhus University Hospital in Aalborg and
colleagues note in the medical journal Diabetes Care that there are several
factors, including high blood glucose, that may increase the risk of bacterial
infection in diabetics.
To look into the matter, the researchers studied 598 people who were
hospitalized for the first time with pneumococcal bacteremia -- that is, a
serious bloodstream infection -- during a 10-year period. Each case was compared
with 10 "control" subjects who were matched for age and gender but did not have
bacteremia.
In all, 53 of the affected patients (9 percent) had diabetes compared with just
298 (5 percent) of controls. After adjustment for other illnesses, the odds of
contracting pneumococcal bacteremia were 50 percent higher for people with
diabetes.
However, age made a difference to the magnitude of the risk of becoming
infected. Among diabetics 40 years of age or younger, the odds were 4 times
higher. This might be because younger patients are more likely to be exposed to
sources of infection, such as children in daycare.
All in all, the researchers estimate that 24 of 1000 hospital admissions for
pneumococcal bacteremia may be attributed to diabetes.
Thomsen's team notes that rates of pneumococcal vaccination in Denmark are
"unfortunately" low, compared with many states in the U.S. While this might be a
public health problem, on the other hand vaccine coverage probably didn't have a
major impact on their findings.
Source: Diabetes In Control.com: Diabetes Care, May 2004.
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