Patients with a diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are at increased risk of infections. Vaccination is a recommended preventive measure. There are no studies evaluating the practice of vaccination in patients with early RA.
To evaluate the frequency of vaccination and the orientation (by the doctor) about vaccines among patients with early RA diagnosis.
Cross-sectional study including patients from the early RA Brasilia cohort. Demographic data, disease activity index (Disease Activity Score 28 - DAS28), functional disability (Health Assessment Questionnaire - HAQ), and data on treatment and vaccination after diagnosis of RA were analyzed.
68 patients were evaluated, 94.1% women, mean age 50.7±13.2 years. DAS28 was 3.65±1.64, and HAQ was 0.70. Most patients (63%) had vaccination card. Only five patients (7.3%) were briefed by the doctor about the use of vaccines. Patients were vaccinated for MMR (8.8%), tetanus (44%), yellow fever (44%), hepatitis B (22%), influenza (42%), H1N1 (61.76%), pneumonia (1.4%), meningitis (1.4%), and chickenpox (1.4%). All patients vaccinated with live attenuated virus were undergoing immunosuppressive therapy, and were vaccinated inadvertently, without medical supervision. There was no association between the use of any vaccine and disease activity, functional disability, years of education, lifestyle, and comorbidities.
Patients were infrequently briefed by the physician regarding use of vaccines, with high frequency of inadvertent vaccination with live attenuated component, while immunization with killed virus was below the recommended level.