Key messages from scientific research that's ready to be acted on
Got It, Hide thisUdell JA, Zawi R, Bhatt DL, et al. Association between influenza vaccination and cardiovascular outcomes in high-risk patients: a meta-analysis. JAMA. 2013;310:1711-20.
In adults, does flu vaccine reduce cardiovascular events, such as heart attacks or heart failure?
Influenza, or flu, is a common respiratory infection. Having the flu can lead to complications and sometimes death. Older people and those with conditions like heart disease are more likely to have complications if they get the flu.
The flu vaccine can help reduce the chances of getting the flu.
The researchers did a systematic review, searching for published studies up to August 2013. They found 5 randomized controlled trials with 6469 people (average age 67 years). The key features of the studies were:
The quality of evidence was strong in 4 trials and weak in 1 trial.
Compared with placebo or no vaccine, flu vaccine reduced the rate of cardiovascular events from 4.7% to 2.9%. This means about 2 fewer people out of 100 who received the flu vaccine had a cardiovascular event at up to 1 year.
In people who had an acute coronary syndrome in the past year, flu vaccine reduced the rate of cardiovascular events from 23% to 10%. The means about 13 fewer people out of 100 people who had an acute coronary syndrome in the past year had a cardiovascular event at up to 1 year.
Flu vaccine reduces cardiovascular events such as heart attacks and heart failure for up to 1 year.
Groups | Number of trials and people | Rate of events with flu vaccine | Rate of events with placebo or no vaccine | Risk of cardiovascular events at up to 1 year |
All people | 5 trials (6469 people) | 2.9% | 4.7% | About 2 fewer people out of 100 had a cardiovascular event |
People who had an acute coronary syndrome in the past year | 3 trials (789 people) | 10% | 23% | About 13 fewer people out of 100 had a cardiovascular event |
*Cardiovascular events included any of death or hospitalization for myocardial infarction (heart attack), unstable angina (chest pain), stroke, heart failure, or coronary revascularization.
Support for the Portal is largely provided by the Labarge Optimal Aging Initiative. AGE-WELL is a contributing partner. Help us to continue to provide direct and easy access to evidence-based information on health and social conditions to help you stay healthy, active and engaged as you grow older. Donate Today.