Comparing the effectiveness of different vaccines in individuals with and without autoimmune diseases: a study protocol for a target trial emulation

AimThis article presents the study protocol of a retrospective cohort study designed to compare the effectiveness of herpes zoster, and influenza vaccines in individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS), chronic inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), or chronic inflammatory rheumatic diseases (CIRD) to indi...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Robin Denz, Heike van de Sand, Jale Basten, Katharina Meiszl, Marianne Tokic, Theresa Oganowski, Thomas Grüter, Stephanie Stock, Dusan Simic, Arim Shukri, Uta Kiltz, Maria Zacharopoulou, Horst Christian Vollmar, Ina Carola Otte, Chantal Giehl, Romy Lauer, Anastasia Suslow, Andreas Stallmach, Anika Franz, Ursula Marschall, Joachim Saam, Catharina Schumacher, Katja Blaschke, Ingo Meyer, Kerstin Hellwig, Nina Timmesfeld, The VAC-MAC Consortium
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-05-01
Series:Frontiers in Public Health
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1583434/full
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850125117851435008
author Robin Denz
Heike van de Sand
Jale Basten
Katharina Meiszl
Marianne Tokic
Theresa Oganowski
Thomas Grüter
Thomas Grüter
Stephanie Stock
Dusan Simic
Arim Shukri
Uta Kiltz
Uta Kiltz
Maria Zacharopoulou
Horst Christian Vollmar
Ina Carola Otte
Chantal Giehl
Chantal Giehl
Romy Lauer
Romy Lauer
Anastasia Suslow
Andreas Stallmach
Anika Franz
Ursula Marschall
Joachim Saam
Catharina Schumacher
Katja Blaschke
Ingo Meyer
Kerstin Hellwig
Nina Timmesfeld
The VAC-MAC Consortium
author_facet Robin Denz
Heike van de Sand
Jale Basten
Katharina Meiszl
Marianne Tokic
Theresa Oganowski
Thomas Grüter
Thomas Grüter
Stephanie Stock
Dusan Simic
Arim Shukri
Uta Kiltz
Uta Kiltz
Maria Zacharopoulou
Horst Christian Vollmar
Ina Carola Otte
Chantal Giehl
Chantal Giehl
Romy Lauer
Romy Lauer
Anastasia Suslow
Andreas Stallmach
Anika Franz
Ursula Marschall
Joachim Saam
Catharina Schumacher
Katja Blaschke
Ingo Meyer
Kerstin Hellwig
Nina Timmesfeld
The VAC-MAC Consortium
author_sort Robin Denz
collection DOAJ
description AimThis article presents the study protocol of a retrospective cohort study designed to compare the effectiveness of herpes zoster, and influenza vaccines in individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS), chronic inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), or chronic inflammatory rheumatic diseases (CIRD) to individuals without these diseases, using claims data of one of the largest population based health insurances in Germany.BackgroundIndividuals with autoimmune diseases such as MS, IBD, and CIRD are more susceptible to vaccine preventable infectious diseases such as influenza and herpes zoster, due to the autoimmune disease itself, the presence of comorbidities and immunosuppressive therapies. Vaccines are the primary means to prevent such diseases. The efficacy of these vaccines is usually estimated using large randomized controlled trials, from which patients with MS, IBD, and CIRD are often excluded. It is therefore unclear whether these vaccines are also effective for these patients.DesignA target trial emulation based on observational claims data of a statutory health insurance company is proposed.MethodsThis study will aim to emulate multiple target trials to compare the effectiveness of herpes zoster and influenza vaccines in patients with and without MS, IBD and CIRD using data from a large German statutory health insurance provider (BARMER). The primary outcome for each vaccine effectiveness analysis is the disease itself. The analysis will be carried out using both time-dependent matching and a multivariable Cox proportional hazards model in conjunction with g-computation. Additionally, the moderating effect of immunosuppressive therapies on the vaccine effectiveness will be estimated using a stratified secondary analysis.DiscussionThis study will estimate and compare the effectiveness of influenza and herpes zoster vaccines in individuals with and without MS, IBD, and CIRD. Because of the large amount of data, this study will also be able to investigate the role of the immunosuppressive medication on vaccine effectiveness, which may provide guidance for vaccine administration guidelines.
format Article
id doaj-art-88032d2a028b4ba4a5a38575a244bf7f
institution OA Journals
issn 2296-2565
language English
publishDate 2025-05-01
publisher Frontiers Media S.A.
record_format Article
series Frontiers in Public Health
spelling doaj-art-88032d2a028b4ba4a5a38575a244bf7f2025-08-20T02:34:10ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Public Health2296-25652025-05-011310.3389/fpubh.2025.15834341583434Comparing the effectiveness of different vaccines in individuals with and without autoimmune diseases: a study protocol for a target trial emulationRobin Denz0Heike van de Sand1Jale Basten2Katharina Meiszl3Marianne Tokic4Theresa Oganowski5Thomas Grüter6Thomas Grüter7Stephanie Stock8Dusan Simic9Arim Shukri10Uta Kiltz11Uta Kiltz12Maria Zacharopoulou13Horst Christian Vollmar14Ina Carola Otte15Chantal Giehl16Chantal Giehl17Romy Lauer18Romy Lauer19Anastasia Suslow20Andreas Stallmach21Anika Franz22Ursula Marschall23Joachim Saam24Catharina Schumacher25Katja Blaschke26Ingo Meyer27Kerstin Hellwig28Nina Timmesfeld29The VAC-MAC ConsortiumDepartment of Medical Informatics, Biometry and Epidemiology, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, GermanyPMV Research Group, Medical Faculty and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, GermanyDepartment of Medical Informatics, Biometry and Epidemiology, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, GermanyDepartment of Medical Informatics, Biometry and Epidemiology, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, GermanyDepartment of Medical Informatics, Biometry and Epidemiology, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, GermanyDepartment of Neurology, St. Josef Hospital, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, GermanyDepartment of Neurology, St. Josef Hospital, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, GermanyDepartment of Neurology and Stroke Unit, Evangelical Hospital Lippstadt, Lippstadt, GermanyFaculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, Institute of Health Economics and Clinical Epidemiology (IGKE), University of Cologne, Cologne, GermanyFaculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, Institute of Health Economics and Clinical Epidemiology (IGKE), University of Cologne, Cologne, GermanyFaculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, Institute of Health Economics and Clinical Epidemiology (IGKE), University of Cologne, Cologne, GermanyRheumazentrum Ruhrgebiet, Herne, GermanyDepartment of Rheumatology, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, GermanyRheumazentrum Ruhrgebiet, Herne, GermanyMedical Faculty, Institute of General Practice and Family Medicine (AM RUB), Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, GermanyMedical Faculty, Institute of General Practice and Family Medicine (AM RUB), Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, GermanyMedical Faculty, Institute of General Practice and Family Medicine (AM RUB), Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, GermanyDepartment of Geriatric Medicine, Marien Hospital Herne, Ruhr University Bochum, Herne, GermanyDepartment of Medical Informatics, Biometry and Epidemiology, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, GermanyMedical Faculty, Institute of General Practice and Family Medicine (AM RUB), Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, GermanyMedical Faculty, Institute of General Practice and Family Medicine (AM RUB), Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany0Department of Internal Medicine IV (Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Infectious Diseases), Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany0Department of Internal Medicine IV (Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Infectious Diseases), Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany1Department Medicine and Health Services Research, BARMER Institute for Health System Research, Wuppertal, Germany1Department Medicine and Health Services Research, BARMER Institute for Health System Research, Wuppertal, Germany1Department Medicine and Health Services Research, BARMER Institute for Health System Research, Wuppertal, GermanyPMV Research Group, Medical Faculty and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, GermanyPMV Research Group, Medical Faculty and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, GermanyDepartment of Neurology, St. Josef Hospital, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, GermanyDepartment of Medical Informatics, Biometry and Epidemiology, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, GermanyAimThis article presents the study protocol of a retrospective cohort study designed to compare the effectiveness of herpes zoster, and influenza vaccines in individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS), chronic inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), or chronic inflammatory rheumatic diseases (CIRD) to individuals without these diseases, using claims data of one of the largest population based health insurances in Germany.BackgroundIndividuals with autoimmune diseases such as MS, IBD, and CIRD are more susceptible to vaccine preventable infectious diseases such as influenza and herpes zoster, due to the autoimmune disease itself, the presence of comorbidities and immunosuppressive therapies. Vaccines are the primary means to prevent such diseases. The efficacy of these vaccines is usually estimated using large randomized controlled trials, from which patients with MS, IBD, and CIRD are often excluded. It is therefore unclear whether these vaccines are also effective for these patients.DesignA target trial emulation based on observational claims data of a statutory health insurance company is proposed.MethodsThis study will aim to emulate multiple target trials to compare the effectiveness of herpes zoster and influenza vaccines in patients with and without MS, IBD and CIRD using data from a large German statutory health insurance provider (BARMER). The primary outcome for each vaccine effectiveness analysis is the disease itself. The analysis will be carried out using both time-dependent matching and a multivariable Cox proportional hazards model in conjunction with g-computation. Additionally, the moderating effect of immunosuppressive therapies on the vaccine effectiveness will be estimated using a stratified secondary analysis.DiscussionThis study will estimate and compare the effectiveness of influenza and herpes zoster vaccines in individuals with and without MS, IBD, and CIRD. Because of the large amount of data, this study will also be able to investigate the role of the immunosuppressive medication on vaccine effectiveness, which may provide guidance for vaccine administration guidelines.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1583434/fullclaims datamultiple sclerosischronic inflammatory rheumatoid diseaseschronic inflammatory bowel diseasesvaccine effectivenesstarget trial
spellingShingle Robin Denz
Heike van de Sand
Jale Basten
Katharina Meiszl
Marianne Tokic
Theresa Oganowski
Thomas Grüter
Thomas Grüter
Stephanie Stock
Dusan Simic
Arim Shukri
Uta Kiltz
Uta Kiltz
Maria Zacharopoulou
Horst Christian Vollmar
Ina Carola Otte
Chantal Giehl
Chantal Giehl
Romy Lauer
Romy Lauer
Anastasia Suslow
Andreas Stallmach
Anika Franz
Ursula Marschall
Joachim Saam
Catharina Schumacher
Katja Blaschke
Ingo Meyer
Kerstin Hellwig
Nina Timmesfeld
The VAC-MAC Consortium
Comparing the effectiveness of different vaccines in individuals with and without autoimmune diseases: a study protocol for a target trial emulation
Frontiers in Public Health
claims data
multiple sclerosis
chronic inflammatory rheumatoid diseases
chronic inflammatory bowel diseases
vaccine effectiveness
target trial
title Comparing the effectiveness of different vaccines in individuals with and without autoimmune diseases: a study protocol for a target trial emulation
title_full Comparing the effectiveness of different vaccines in individuals with and without autoimmune diseases: a study protocol for a target trial emulation
title_fullStr Comparing the effectiveness of different vaccines in individuals with and without autoimmune diseases: a study protocol for a target trial emulation
title_full_unstemmed Comparing the effectiveness of different vaccines in individuals with and without autoimmune diseases: a study protocol for a target trial emulation
title_short Comparing the effectiveness of different vaccines in individuals with and without autoimmune diseases: a study protocol for a target trial emulation
title_sort comparing the effectiveness of different vaccines in individuals with and without autoimmune diseases a study protocol for a target trial emulation
topic claims data
multiple sclerosis
chronic inflammatory rheumatoid diseases
chronic inflammatory bowel diseases
vaccine effectiveness
target trial
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1583434/full
work_keys_str_mv AT robindenz comparingtheeffectivenessofdifferentvaccinesinindividualswithandwithoutautoimmunediseasesastudyprotocolforatargettrialemulation
AT heikevandesand comparingtheeffectivenessofdifferentvaccinesinindividualswithandwithoutautoimmunediseasesastudyprotocolforatargettrialemulation
AT jalebasten comparingtheeffectivenessofdifferentvaccinesinindividualswithandwithoutautoimmunediseasesastudyprotocolforatargettrialemulation
AT katharinameiszl comparingtheeffectivenessofdifferentvaccinesinindividualswithandwithoutautoimmunediseasesastudyprotocolforatargettrialemulation
AT mariannetokic comparingtheeffectivenessofdifferentvaccinesinindividualswithandwithoutautoimmunediseasesastudyprotocolforatargettrialemulation
AT theresaoganowski comparingtheeffectivenessofdifferentvaccinesinindividualswithandwithoutautoimmunediseasesastudyprotocolforatargettrialemulation
AT thomasgruter comparingtheeffectivenessofdifferentvaccinesinindividualswithandwithoutautoimmunediseasesastudyprotocolforatargettrialemulation
AT thomasgruter comparingtheeffectivenessofdifferentvaccinesinindividualswithandwithoutautoimmunediseasesastudyprotocolforatargettrialemulation
AT stephaniestock comparingtheeffectivenessofdifferentvaccinesinindividualswithandwithoutautoimmunediseasesastudyprotocolforatargettrialemulation
AT dusansimic comparingtheeffectivenessofdifferentvaccinesinindividualswithandwithoutautoimmunediseasesastudyprotocolforatargettrialemulation
AT arimshukri comparingtheeffectivenessofdifferentvaccinesinindividualswithandwithoutautoimmunediseasesastudyprotocolforatargettrialemulation
AT utakiltz comparingtheeffectivenessofdifferentvaccinesinindividualswithandwithoutautoimmunediseasesastudyprotocolforatargettrialemulation
AT utakiltz comparingtheeffectivenessofdifferentvaccinesinindividualswithandwithoutautoimmunediseasesastudyprotocolforatargettrialemulation
AT mariazacharopoulou comparingtheeffectivenessofdifferentvaccinesinindividualswithandwithoutautoimmunediseasesastudyprotocolforatargettrialemulation
AT horstchristianvollmar comparingtheeffectivenessofdifferentvaccinesinindividualswithandwithoutautoimmunediseasesastudyprotocolforatargettrialemulation
AT inacarolaotte comparingtheeffectivenessofdifferentvaccinesinindividualswithandwithoutautoimmunediseasesastudyprotocolforatargettrialemulation
AT chantalgiehl comparingtheeffectivenessofdifferentvaccinesinindividualswithandwithoutautoimmunediseasesastudyprotocolforatargettrialemulation
AT chantalgiehl comparingtheeffectivenessofdifferentvaccinesinindividualswithandwithoutautoimmunediseasesastudyprotocolforatargettrialemulation
AT romylauer comparingtheeffectivenessofdifferentvaccinesinindividualswithandwithoutautoimmunediseasesastudyprotocolforatargettrialemulation
AT romylauer comparingtheeffectivenessofdifferentvaccinesinindividualswithandwithoutautoimmunediseasesastudyprotocolforatargettrialemulation
AT anastasiasuslow comparingtheeffectivenessofdifferentvaccinesinindividualswithandwithoutautoimmunediseasesastudyprotocolforatargettrialemulation
AT andreasstallmach comparingtheeffectivenessofdifferentvaccinesinindividualswithandwithoutautoimmunediseasesastudyprotocolforatargettrialemulation
AT anikafranz comparingtheeffectivenessofdifferentvaccinesinindividualswithandwithoutautoimmunediseasesastudyprotocolforatargettrialemulation
AT ursulamarschall comparingtheeffectivenessofdifferentvaccinesinindividualswithandwithoutautoimmunediseasesastudyprotocolforatargettrialemulation
AT joachimsaam comparingtheeffectivenessofdifferentvaccinesinindividualswithandwithoutautoimmunediseasesastudyprotocolforatargettrialemulation
AT catharinaschumacher comparingtheeffectivenessofdifferentvaccinesinindividualswithandwithoutautoimmunediseasesastudyprotocolforatargettrialemulation
AT katjablaschke comparingtheeffectivenessofdifferentvaccinesinindividualswithandwithoutautoimmunediseasesastudyprotocolforatargettrialemulation
AT ingomeyer comparingtheeffectivenessofdifferentvaccinesinindividualswithandwithoutautoimmunediseasesastudyprotocolforatargettrialemulation
AT kerstinhellwig comparingtheeffectivenessofdifferentvaccinesinindividualswithandwithoutautoimmunediseasesastudyprotocolforatargettrialemulation
AT ninatimmesfeld comparingtheeffectivenessofdifferentvaccinesinindividualswithandwithoutautoimmunediseasesastudyprotocolforatargettrialemulation
AT thevacmacconsortium comparingtheeffectivenessofdifferentvaccinesinindividualswithandwithoutautoimmunediseasesastudyprotocolforatargettrialemulation