By 2040, 27% of the Spanish population will be over the age of 65, and life expectancy will have increased by three years compared to 2021. This progressive ageing will not only reshape the demographic structure but also significantly increase the prevalence of chronic diseases.
In this context, the Valdecilla Health Research Institute (IDIVAL), firmly committed to research and the prevention of pneumococcal disease in the adult population, has developed an educational infographic. This condition particularly affects people over 65, as well as patients with chronic illnesses or those who are immunocompromised.
The infographic highlights that investment in prevention is a highly efficient strategy to reduce mortality, disability, dependency, and the high healthcare costs associated with pneumococcal disease.
Indeed, this disease not only presents high mortality rates among at‑risk groups but can also lead to severe long‑term consequences, such as reduced lung function, increased risk of cardiovascular events, and loss of personal autonomy, all of which have a direct impact on patients’ quality of life.
To this burden we must add a significant economic impact: more than 2.686 billion euros annually in healthcare costs, driven, among other factors, by increased hospitalisations and the need for additional interventions related to therapeutic resistance.
For all these reasons, adult vaccination stands out as a key cost‑effective intervention capable of improving population health and contributing to the sustainability of the healthcare system.
