A large-scale risk assessment and classification model for pneumococcus using Finnish national health data

Abstract

Streptococcus pneumoniae, or pneumococcus, poses a significant health risk, particularly to infants, the elderly, and individuals with underlying medical conditions. In Finland, pneumococcal vaccination is part of the national immunization program, with vaccination provided to young children and only selected at-risk adult populations included. This study aims to leverage the Finnish national electronic health record system, Kanta, to analyze treatment histories and identify individuals at increased risk for disease to improve vaccination strategies. Kanta provides a comprehensive, nationwide database of patient treatment histories, which can be utilized to track individual risk factors and disease episodes. We analyzed health data from 96,200 Finnish residents with risk factors for pneumococcal disease following guidelines from the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare and the World Health Organization. We prioritize vaccination for those at the greatest risk by categorizing individuals based on their identified risk factors. This study demonstrates the potential for using national health record data to conduct large-scale risk analyses, allowing for more targeted and efficient vaccination strategies. The novelty of our approach lies in the automatic identification of high-risk individuals, which can inform public health initiatives and enhance the monitoring of pneumococcal disease risk at a population level.