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Lars Køber

Publications and source records attributed to Lars Køber.

7 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2027

Effectiveness of high-dose versus standard-dose influenza vaccines against hospitalisation according to frailty risk: a prespecified analysis of the randomised trial DANFLU-2.

BACKGROUND: Frailty is a major risk factor for influenza-related complications and can influence vaccine effectiveness. We aimed to assess the relative vaccine effectiveness (rVE) of high-dose (HD-IIV) versus standard-dose inactivated influenza vaccine (SD-IIV) in older adults aged 65 years or older according to frailty risk. METHODS: This study was a prespecified analysis of DANFLU-2, an open-label, individually randomised trial, conducted in Denmark during three consecutive influenza seasons (2022-23, 2023-24, and 2024-25). Adults aged 65 years or older were randomised (1:1) to the HD-IIV or SD-IIV group. The primary endpoint was hospitalisation for influenza or pneumonia. Frailty was defined according to the validated Hospital Frailty Risk Score (HFRS) based on ICD-10 codes within 10 years before randomisation. Participants were stratified into three HFRS categories, namely low (<5 points), intermediate (5-15 points), and high (>15 points) frailty risk. The rVE of HD-IIV versus SD-IIV against the primary endpoint was assessed across prespecified HFRS categories and treating HFRS as a continuous variable. Pearson's chi-square test was used to compare safety events across frailty risk groups and randomisation groups. FINDINGS: Among 332&#x2009;438 randomised participants (mean age 73&#xb7;7 years [SD 5&#xb7;8]; 161&#x2009;538 [48&#xb7;6%] were female), 276&#x2009;173 (83&#xb7;1%) had low frailty risk, 52&#x2009;395 (15&#xb7;8%) had intermediate frailty risk, and 3861 (1&#xb7;2%) had high frailty risk. The primary endpoint of hospitalisation for influenza or pneumonia occurred in 1424 (0&#xb7;5%) of 276&#x2009;173 participants with low frailty risk, 761 (1&#xb7;5%) of 52&#x2009;395 with intermediate frailty risk, and 163 (4&#xb7;2%) of 3861 with high frailty risk (relative risk [RR] for intermediate vs low frailty risk 2&#xb7;8 [95% CI 2&#xb7;6-3&#xb7;1]; RR for high vs low frailty risk 8&#xb7;2 [7&#xb7;0-9&#xb7;6]). HFRS as a continuous variable significantly modified the effect of HD-IIV versus SD-IIV against the primary endpoint with higher rVE estimates with increasing HFRS (pinteraction=0&#xb7;020). The rVE was 0&#xb7;2% (95% CI -10&#xb7;8 to 10&#xb7;2) among those with low frailty risk, 13&#xb7;1% (-0&#xb7;4 to 24&#xb7;8) among those with intermediate frailty risk, and 19&#xb7;9% (-10&#xb7;3 to 42&#xb7;1) among those with high frailty risk. No significant interaction was observed when HFRS was assessed according to the prespecified categorical frailty groups (pinteraction=0&#xb7;17). The proportion of participants with at least one serious adverse event increased across frailty risk groups (13&#x2009;366 [4&#xb7;8%] of 275&#x2009;795 for low frailty risk, 5475 [10&#xb7;5%] of 52&#x2009;315 for intermediate frailty risk, and 777 [20&#xb7;2%] of 3850 for high frailty risk; p<0&#xb7;0001), with similar proportions of serious adverse events in the HD-IIV and SD-IIV groups for each frailty risk group. INTERPRETATION: Among adults aged 65 years or older in Denmark, frailty risk might modify the effects of HD-IIV versus SD-IIV against hospitalisation for influenza or pneumonia, with higher rVE estimates with increasing frailty risk. These findings might support considering high-dose influenza vaccines for frail older adults. However, effect modification was not evident when frailty was assessed using prespecified categorical subgroups, and subgroup-specific estimates were imprecise, with 95% CIs crossing the null. These results should be considered exploratory, warranting further investigation. FUNDING: The DANFLU-2 trial was funded by Sanofi.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2026

Electronic Nudges to Increase Influenza Vaccination in Immunosuppressed Adults Across the Age Spectrum: A Pooled Analysis of 2 Nationwide Randomized Trials.

BACKGROUND: Immunosuppressed individuals face higher risk of severe influenza complications, yet vaccination coverage remains low. We aimed to assess the effect of electronic letter-based nudges on influenza vaccination uptake by immunosuppression status. METHODS: We performed a participant-level pooled analysis of 2 methodologically harmonized, nationwide, pragmatic randomized clinical trials during the 2023-2024 influenza season. Adults aged &#x2265;65 years (NUDGE-FLU-2) and adults aged 18-64 years with chronic conditions (NUDGE-FLU-CHRONIC) were included, with immunosuppression defined by an immunosuppressive diagnosis or a filled prescription for immunosuppressive therapy. Participants were randomized in a 2.45:1:1:1:1:1:1 ratio to usual care or 1 of 6 electronic letter interventions. The primary outcome was receipt of influenza vaccination by 1 January 2024 ascertained from nationwide administrative health registries. Effect modification by immunosuppression status was assessed using binomial regression. RESULTS: Among 1 181 254 participants (mean age 67 years; 73 830 [6.3%] immunosuppressed), 66.1% were vaccinated. Any letter increased vaccine uptake compared with usual care (absolute difference, 2.79% points; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.60-2.98; P < .001), with greater effect among immunosuppressed individuals (+4.12 vs +2.70% points; Pinteraction = .002). In younger adults with chronic conditions, letter-based nudges increased vaccination rates by 11.7% points overall and by 13.3% points among those with immunosuppression (Pinteraction = .007). Among immunosuppressed individuals, nudging effects appeared greater for those with immunosuppressive conditions than for those receiving immunosuppressive treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Electronic letter-based nudges increased influenza vaccination rates, with greater benefit among immunosuppressed individuals. These findings support implementation of low-cost, letter-based nudging strategies to improve vaccine uptake in this high-risk population. Clinical Trials Registration. NCT06030726 and NCT06030739.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2026

10-year outcome of fractional flow reserve-guided complete revascularization in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction - A DANAMI-3 PRIMULTI substudy.

BACKGROUND: Complete revascularization is recommended in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and multivessel disease. However, whether the non-culprit lesions should be evaluated using angiography or fractional flow reserve (FFR) remains uncertain. The aim of this study was to evaluate the long-term outcome of patients with STEMI and multivessel disease who had non-culprit FFR-values >0.80 and thus deferred PCI. METHODS: Of the 627 patients included in the DANAMI-3-PRIMULTI trial, 314 patients were randomized to FFR-guided complete revascularization and 280 were included in this substudy. Patients were divided into a PCI-deferral group who had no PCI of non-culprit lesions (FFR&#xa0;>&#xa0;0.80) (n&#xa0;=&#xa0;106) and a PCI group encompassing patients treated with PCI of at least one non-culprit lesion (FFR&#xa0;&#x2264;&#xa0;0.80 or an angiographical diameter stenosis of &#x2265;90%) (n&#xa0;=&#xa0;174). The combined endpoint included all-cause mortality, myocardial infarction, or urgent revascularization. RESULTS: During a median follow-up of 10.5&#xa0;years (IQR 9.8-11.4), the composite outcome occurred in 62 (36%) patients in the PCI group and in 50 (47%) patients in the PCI-deferral group (adjusted HR 0.64, 95% CI: 0.44-0.95, p&#xa0;=&#xa0;0.025). PCI-deferral was associated with a significantly higher risk of cardiovascular mortality (adjusted HR 0.48, CI 95% 0.24-0.97, p&#xa0;=&#xa0;0.040) compared to the PCI group. CONCLUSION: In patients with STEMI and multivessel disease, deferring PCI of non-culprit lesions based on FFR&#xa0;>&#xa0;0.80 was associated with an increased risk of the combination of all-cause mortality, myocardial infarction, or urgent revascularization as well as cardiovascular mortality compared to patients treated with PCI of FFR-positive non-culprit lesions.

Humans↗
PubMed2025

High-Dose vs Standard-Dose Influenza Vaccine and Cardiovascular Outcomes in Older Adults: A Prespecified Secondary Analysis of the DANFLU-2 Randomized Clinical Trial.

IMPORTANCE: The high-dose inactivated influenza vaccine (HD-IIV) has demonstrated superior protection against laboratory-confirmed influenza infection vs standard-dose IIV (SD-IIV); however, data regarding its effectiveness against cardiovascular (CV) outcomes are mainly from observational studies or specific high-risk groups. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relative vaccine effectiveness (rVE) of HD-IIV vs SD-IIV against CV outcomes in the general older adult population in Denmark. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: This was a prespecified secondary analysis of DANFLU-2, a pragmatic, open-label, individually randomized clinical trial (RCT) using nationwide administrative health registries in Denmark during the 2022/2023 to 2024/2025 influenza seasons. Older adults (age &#x2265;65 years) were eligible for inclusion regardless of comorbidity. The trial design specified that if the primary end point was neutral, no hypothesis testing would be performed for secondary or exploratory end points. Data were analyzed from June 29 to August 12, 2025. INTERVENTIONS: Individual-level 1:1 randomization to HD-IIV or SD-IIV. Participants re-enrolling in additional seasons were rerandomized. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: Severe CV outcomes were prespecified secondary and exploratory end points in the trial, occurring from 14 days after vaccination through May 31 the following year. RESULTS: A total of 332&#x202f;438 participants (170&#x202f;900 [51.4%] male; mean [SD] age, 73.7 [5.8] years) were randomized (166&#x202f;218 to HD-IIV and 166&#x202f;220 to SD-IIV), of whom 91&#x202f;026 (27.4%) had a history of CV disease. HD-IIV did not significantly reduce the trial's primary end point of hospitalization for influenza or pneumonia. The incidence of hospitalization for any cardiorespiratory disease was lower in the HD-IIV group than the SD-IIV group (rVE, 5.7% [95% CI, 1.4% to 9.9%]; absolute difference, -0.13 [95% CI, -0.24 to -0.03] percentage points), and rVE did not differ by history of CV disease compared with no CV disease at baseline. Hospitalization for any CV disease occurred in fewer participants in the HD-IIV group than the SD-IIV group (rVE, 7.5% [95% CI, 1.5% to 12.5%]; absolute difference, -0.10 [95% CI, -0.18 to -0.02] percentage points) as did hospitalization for heart failure (rVE, 19.5% [95% CI, 3.3% to 33.1%]; absolute difference, -0.03 [95% CI, -0.06 to -0.01] percentage points). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: This study found reduced incidence of cardiorespiratory hospitalization among those who received HD-IIV vs SD-IIV, driven by a lower incidence of CV hospitalizations, and particularly heart failure hospitalizations. These differences should be interpreted as exploratory findings in the setting of a large RCT with a neutral primary outcome. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT05517174.

Aged↗
PubMed2025

Bivalent RSV Prefusion F Protein-Based Vaccine for Preventing Cardiovascular Hospitalizations in Older Adults: A Prespecified Analysis of the DAN-RSV Trial.

IMPORTANCE: Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection is linked to elevated cardiovascular risk, particularly in individuals with preexisting cardiovascular disease (CVD). A bivalent RSV prefusion F protein (RSVpreF) vaccine was recently approved for preventing RSV-related lower respiratory tract illness, but its effectiveness against cardiovascular outcomes has not been evaluated in a randomized trial. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the vaccine effectiveness of RSVpreF compared with no vaccine against cardiovascular outcomes among adults aged 60 years or older. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: Prespecified secondary analysis of the DAN-RSV trial, a pragmatic, open-label, individually randomized clinical trial conducted in Denmark during the 2024-2025 winter season. The first participant was enrolled on November 18, 2024. Adults aged 60 years or older were eligible for inclusion regardless of comorbidity status. INTERVENTIONS: Participants were randomized 1:1 to receive RSVpreF (n&#x2009;=&#x2009;65&#x202f;642) or no vaccine (n&#x2009;=&#x2009;65&#x202f;634). MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: Hospitalization for any cardiorespiratory disease was a prespecified secondary outcome, and hospitalizations for any CVD, heart failure, myocardial infarction, stroke, and atrial fibrillation were prespecified exploratory outcomes. Outcomes were assessed from 14 days after booked study visit through May 31, 2025. Vaccine effectiveness was calculated as 1 - incidence rate ratio, expressed as a percentage. RESULTS: Of 131&#x202f;276 participants included (mean age, 69.4 [SD, 6.5] years; 50.3% male), 28&#x202f;662 (21.8%) had preexisting CVD. All-cause cardiorespiratory hospitalization incidence was lower in the RSVpreF group compared with the control group (26.3 vs 29.2 events per 1000 participant-years [PY]; absolute rate reduction, 2.90 [95% CI, 0.10-5.71] per 1000 PY; vaccine effectiveness, 9.9% [95% CI, 0.3%-18.7%]; P&#x2009;=&#x2009;.04). There was no significant interaction by baseline CVD status (CVD at baseline: vaccine effectiveness, 5.0% [95% CI, -11.2% to 16.7%]; no CVD at baseline: vaccine effectiveness, 15.2% [95% CI, 2.2%-27.1%]; P&#x2009;=&#x2009;.27 for interaction). For the RSVpreF group vs control group, respectively, incidence rates of all-cause cardiovascular hospitalization were 16.4 vs 17.7 events per 1000 PY (vaccine effectiveness, 7.4% [95% CI, -5.5% to 18.8%]; P&#x2009;=&#x2009;.24), and incidence rates of stroke were 3.0 vs 3.8 events per 1000 PY (vaccine effectiveness, 19.4% [95% CI, -8.6% to 40.4%]; P&#x2009;=&#x2009;.14). There were also no statistically significant between-group differences for myocardial infarction, heart failure hospitalization, and atrial fibrillation. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: In adults aged 60 years or older, all-cause cardiorespiratory hospitalization was significantly lower with RSVpreF than with no vaccine. The findings suggest potential downstream cardiorespiratory benefits of RSV immunization, although the effect on all-cause cardiovascular hospitalization was not statistically significant. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT06684743.

Aged↗
PubMed2025

Cellular Adhesion Molecules and Adverse Outcomes in Chronic Heart Failure: Findings From the DAPA-HF Randomized Clinical Trial.

IMPORTANCE: Vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM-1) and intracellular cell adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1) are responsible for immune cell-cell interactions. Systemic levels of VCAM-1 are associated with incident heart failure (HF). OBJECTIVES: To determine if VCAM-1 and ICAM-1 levels are associated with progression of established HF. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: Participants enrolled in the biomarker substudy of the Dapagliflozin and Prevention of Adverse Outcomes in Heart Failure (DAPA-HF) randomized clinical trial had VCAM-1 and ICAM-1 levels measured at baseline and 12 months. The DAPA-HF trial was conducted at 410 sites in 20 countries. Patients with HF and reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) in New York Heart Association (NYHA) class II to IV with elevated natriuretic peptides were enrolled between February 15, 2017, and August 17, 2018, with final follow-up on June 6, 2019. Data were analyzed from January 2023 to January 2025. INTERVENTIONS: Dapagliflozin, 10 mg, once daily vs placebo. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: The primary outcome was the composite of a worsening HF event or cardiovascular death. The associations between VCAM-1 and ICAM-1 levels at baseline and the primary outcome, its components, and all-cause death were analyzed using Cox proportional hazards regression models adjusted for known prognostic variables including estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), and high-sensitivity troponin T (hs-TnT), as well as high-sensitivity C-reactive protein. RESULTS: A total of 3051 participants (mean [SD] age, 67.2 [10.5] years; 2386 male [78.2%]) were included in this study. Mean (SD) follow-up time was 17.6 (5.2) months. The median (IQR) baseline VCAM-1 level was 997 (816.7-1218.8) ng/mL. Compared with patients with lower concentrations of VCAM-1, those with higher concentrations of VCAM-1 were older (mean [SD] age T3 vs T1, 69.7&#x2009;[9.7] years vs 64.1&#x2009;[10.7] years; P&#x2009;<&#x2009;.001), in worse NYHA class (T3 vs T1, NYHA class III/IV 35.6% [362 of 1017] vs 26.5% [269 of 1017]; P&#x2009;<&#x2009;.001), and had higher NT-proBNP (median [IQR] T3 vs T1, 2018 [1126-3753] pg/mL vs 1118 [693-1830] pg/mL) and hs-TnT (median [IQR] T3 vs T1, 24.7 [17.1-37.5] ng/L vs 16.6 [11.6-24.9] ng/L) concentrations, and lower eGFR (mean [SD] T3 vs T1, 58.4 [17.6] mL/min/1.73 m2 vs 71.7 [18.0] mL/min/1.73 m2). Patients in tertile 3 of VCAM-1, compared with tertile 1, had the highest risk of each outcome (eg, adjusted hazard ratio [HR] for primary outcome 1.40; 95% CI, 1.11-1.77; P&#x2009;=&#x2009;.004). ICAM-1 level was not associated with an elevated risk of any outcome. The benefit of dapagliflozin vs placebo in reducing the risk of the primary outcome was consistent across VCAM-1 tertiles: HR, 0.76 (95% CI, 0.54-1.06), 0.82 (95% CI, 0.59-1.12), and 0.77 (95% CI, 0.61-0.98) for tertiles 1, 2 and 3, respectively (P for interaction&#x2009;=&#x2009;.93). There was no significant change in VCAM-1 level with dapagliflozin at 52 weeks. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Results of this substudy of the DAPA-HF randomized clinical trial demonstrate that higher VCAM-1 levels, possibly reflecting a distinct inflammatory/immune pathophysiological pathway in HFrEF, were associated with worse outcomes, even after adjustment for conventional prognostic variables. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03036124.

Aged↗
PubMed2025

Genome-wide association study meta-analysis provides insights into the etiology of heart failure and its subtypes.

Heart failure (HF) is a major contributor to global morbidity and mortality. While distinct clinical subtypes, defined by etiology and left ventricular ejection fraction, are well recognized, their genetic determinants remain inadequately understood. In this study, we report a genome-wide association study of HF and its subtypes in a sample of 1.9 million individuals. A total of 153,174 individuals had HF, of whom 44,012 had a nonischemic etiology (ni-HF). A subset of patients with ni-HF were stratified based on left ventricular systolic function, where data were available, identifying 5,406 individuals with reduced ejection fraction and 3,841 with preserved ejection fraction. We identify 66 genetic loci associated with HF and its subtypes, 37 of which have not previously been reported. Using functionally informed gene prioritization methods, we predict effector genes for each identified locus, and map these to etiologic disease clusters through phenome-wide association analysis, network analysis and colocalization. Through heritability enrichment analysis, we highlight the role of extracardiac tissues in disease etiology. We then examine the differential associations of upstream risk factors with HF subtypes using Mendelian randomization. These findings extend our understanding of the mechanisms underlying HF etiology and may inform future approaches to prevention and treatment.

Humans↗