COVID-19 Vaccination Rates and Predictors of Uptake Among Adults With Coronary Heart Disease: Insight From the 2022 National Health Interview Survey.

Introduction: COVID-19 has become a burden to all nations across the globe, and vaccination currently remains the most effective means of fighting the SARS-COV-2 pandemic. From the time of approval and subsequent distribution of the various COVID-19 vaccines, nearly 72.3% (5.5 billion) of the globe's population have been vaccinated, leaving slightly more than a quarter of the globe's population at risk. With the approval and availability of booster vaccine dosages to individuals with chronic conditions, including coronary heart disease (CHD), it is vital to comprehend the factors underlying the uptake of COVID-19 vaccination in such subgroups. Further, the American Heart Association recommends vaccination against COVID-19 in populations with coronary heart disease (CHD). This is because they are more likely to experience severe outcomes due to COVID-19 infection. This study assesses the uptake of COVID-19 vaccines as well as predictors of its uptake.

Methods: Using the 2022 survey data from the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), 1,708 adults ≥ 40 years with CHD who responded yes/no to whether they had received the vaccine were identified. A Pearson's chi-square test was used to ascertain differences among those who had received the vaccine and those who had not. A logistic regression (multivariate regression) was used to evaluate predictors of COVID-19 vaccination.

Results: About 1,491/1,708 (86.8%) adults ≥ 40 years reported being vaccinated against COVID-19. Among them, 1,065/1,491 (68.4%) had received more than two vaccination doses. The predictors of COVID-19 vaccination were older age (odds ratio (OR): 2.01 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.40-2.89), p < 0.001), ratio of family income to poverty threshold of 1 and above (OR: 2.40 (95% CI: 1.58-3.64), p < 0.001), having a college degree (OR: 3.09 (95% CI: 1.85-5.14), p < 0.001), and being insured (OR: 3.26 (95% CI: 1.03-10.26), p = 0.044).

Conclusion: The findings of the study have indicated that 68.4% of adults 40 years and above with CHD have been vaccinated against COVID-19 and have received more than two doses of vaccines. More than half have followed recommendations and have received booster doses of the vaccine. Old age (above 40 years) and a higher socioeconomic class are associated with being more likely to follow COVID-19 vaccination guidelines. Despite the higher vaccination rate of 68.4% in the adults with heart diseases group, strategies for improving booster vaccine awareness alongside accessibility are needed to enhance additional dosage uptake, protect them against novel COVID-19 variants, and ensure the development of sustained immunity.