P-2064. The presence of learning difficulties is associated with higher disease burden in patients diagnosed with influenza: a real-world survey in an older population

TL;DR

Older adults with learning difficulties experience a greater impact on their quality of life and wellbeing from influenza compared to those without learning difficulties.

Contribution

This study quantifies the increased disease burden of influenza in older individuals with learning difficulties using real-world data.

Findings

Patients with learning difficulties had higher impacts on psychological wellbeing, quality of life, and daily living due to influenza.

Physician-reported fatigue and pain scores were higher in patients with learning difficulties compared to those without.

A higher proportion of patients with learning difficulties had severe/critical influenza and required caregiver support.

Abstract

Although the clinical burden of influenza in older individuals is well-documented, limited data exist characterising this burden in individuals with learning difficulties (LD). We aimed to describe the incremental real-world impact of influenza on the quality of life (QoL) in older individuals (aged ≥60 years) associated with LD.Figure 1:Physician-stated impact of influenza on aspects of lifeFigure 2:Physician-stated severity of fatigue and pain

Physician-stated impact of influenza on aspects of life

Physician-stated severity of fatigue and pain

Data were drawn from the Adelphi Influenza Disease Specific Programme™, a cross-sectional survey with retrospective data elements of physicians and patients with influenza in France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the United Kingdom and the United States collected between January 2024-July 2024. Healthcare professionals (HCPs) reported data on demographics, clinical characteristics, and symptoms for 2-4 consecutively consulting patients that had acute influenza. HCPs also provided information regarding their perception of disease burden and QoL. Analyses were descriptive.

Overall, 961 HCPs reported data for 2457 patients, of whom 301 had mild to severe learning difficulties (MSLD) and 2156 had no learning difficulties (NLD). For MSLD patients, mean (SD) age was 78.7 (8.6) years and 53.2% were male. For NLD this was 71.6 (8.2) and 51.7%. In total, 6% of MSLD and 23% of NLD patients were employed. 89% of MSLD and 77% of NLD had concomitant conditions; the most common were chronic pulmonary disease (MSLD: 31%, NLD: 30%), hypertension (MSLD: 36%, NLD: 20%) and diabetes (MSLD: 19%, NLD: 20%). At data collection, 25% of MSLD and 15% of NLD had severe/critical influenza.

Caregiver support was required by 71% of MSLD and 38% of NLD patients, with 30% and 9%, respectively, living in a long-term care facility. Just over half had been vaccinated against influenza (MSLD: 57%, NLD: 56%)

Influenza had a high impact on patient’s psychological wellbeing (MSLD: 25%, NLD: 13%), QoL (33%, 21%) and activities of daily living (31%, 20%; Figure 1). HCPs scored MSLD physical fatigue 6.7, mental fatigue 5.9 and pain 4.7 (NLD: 6.0, 4.9, 4.2 respectively; Figure 2).

Patients with MSLD had a high disease burden due to their influenza, which impacted psychological wellbeing, QoL and daily living. Ongoing research including the patient perspective would inform the implementation of targeted care for older adults with LD.

All Authors: No reported disclosures

Figures