Article Citation in APA format
Lamontagne, F., et al. (2008). Pneumococcal vaccination and risk of myocardial infarction. Canadian Medical Association Journal, 179 (8), 773-777.
Research Question
Does immunization against S. Pneumonia link to a reduced threat of myocardial infarction?
Health Outcome of Interest
There is an impact of pneumococcal immunization in combating myocardial infarction.
Exposure(s) of Interest
The interest has high exposure to pneumococcal immunization. This means that atherosclerosis disease has an impact on the death rate in developed countries.
Diagnostic Criteria for Cases
The pneumococcal vaccination should be applied to the exposed group.
Case Ascertainment
This is a multi-site study. In this case, the steps of accessing the journal include the opening of a student’s account at Walden University. The next step involves opening the ebscohost online library resource to access the journal.
Number of Cases
The total number of participants was 43,209 patients. This formed the population of the study. The sample size was 3,996 individuals. They were selected based on selection criteria. Therefore, the number of cases that did not participate was 39213 patients. The cases that did not participate were excluded based on the criteria of having a certain age. In addition, patients who were not admitted to the chosen surgical department or had experienced atherosclerotic disease were excluded. Patients who experienced myocardial infarction before the selection date and those who did not have health insurance cards were also excluded (Lamontagne, et al, 2008).
Control Population
The control population included 19,480 patients, and only 3,996 patients were included in the analysis. The control cases included patients who experienced risk factors of cardiovascular infection. The control cases had no diagnosis of atherosclerotic disease. In addition, the control cases had not experienced myocardial infarction when the study was conducted (Lamontagne, et al, 2008).
Type (s) /Method (s) of Data Collection
The data were collected from medical records belonging to the Centre informatisé Derec harsh évaluative en services et soins de santé of the Centre hospitalier universitaire de Sherbrooke and Logivac. There was no procedure applied to validate the data used because the databases used were reliable (Lamontagne, et al, 2008).
Type of Data Analysis
The data were analyzed using correlation and regression models. The correlation coefficient, as well as Type 1 and type II errors, were obtained. The Odds ratio (OR) was also obtained. A logistic regression model was developed. The Adjusted OR and the confidence interval were computed. Invariable and multivariable analyses were developed to include the covariables provided during the analysis. A multivariable model was developed using the available covariates. In addition, a single-step model was applied (Lamontagne, et al, 2008).
Results/Main Findings of Study
It was established that the likelihood of vaccination was more for the controls than that of the cases. Chronic renal failure had a higher probability of occurrence in cases than in the controls. A similar pattern was experienced for diabetes. The application of the pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine had a mean time of 1.81 years and a standard deviation of 1.02. The cases had a mean interval of 1.50 years between exposure and vaccine. The standard deviation was 1.03 years (Lamontagne, et al, 2008).
Assessment of Bias
The selection of the sample was not biased because a clear guide was provided during the sampling process. All sampled cases and controls had the qualifications required. The cases and controls that were excluded had failed to meet the minimum characteristics provided (Merrill & Timmreck, 2006).
Assessment of Confounders
The confounders were provided to ensure that the research was effective. The dependent and independent variables were provided alongside other supportive variables. The confounders improved the results of the research, and this made the entire process reliable (Merrill & Timmreck, 2006).
Comments
It is possible to identify the behavior of cases because the controls provide the characteristics of the cases. The sample selected helps in developing inferences about the population of the study. This shows that the research was reliable since the results were obtained from a reliable process.
References
Lamontagne, F., et al. (2008). Pneumococcal vaccination and risk of myocardial infarction. Canadian Medical Association Journal, 179 (8), 773-777.
Merrill, R. M. & Timmreck, T. C. (2006). Introduction to epidemiology. Sudbury, Mass: Jones and Bartlett Publishers.