The flu vaccine also protects against worsening cardiovascular disease
Influenza causes 5,000 to 15,000 deaths in Italy every year, especially among those who are more fragile. Here's what a recent study on the link between the flu vaccine and cardiovascular disease found
The flu vaccine not only defends against the flu but, in the case of people suffering from cardiovascular disease, also protects against the worsening of their pathology. This was stated by a study published by The Lancet Global Health , in which more than 5,000 people with heart failure took part between 2015 and 2021.
THE TRIAL
Already in 2013, the Italian Medicines Agency (Aifa) claimed that vaccination against influenza can reduce the likelihood of major adverse cardiovascular events, such as heart attack and stroke, in people suffering from heart disease .
Now, that thesis is backed up by a new McMaster University clinical trial of more than 5,000 people with heart failure in 10 low- and middle-income countries, where vaccination rates are still very low.
Participants received, between 2015 and 2021, either the flu vaccine or a placebo every year.
THE RESULTS
The analysis of the results showed that when events outside the peak flu season were analysed, there was no difference between the flu vaccine and placebo groups in the first or second outcome. death from all causes, cardiovascular death or hospitalization from all causes, and pneumonia.
While in the peak period of the flu the differences were greater.
It was also noted that hospitalization for heart failure was lower in the group that received the vaccine outside the flu peak period, but not during the peak flu period.
Also, during peak influenza circulation for seasons when the predominant circulating flu strain appeared to be similar to that of the flu vaccine, there were fewer deaths from all causes in the vaccinated group.
However, when the predominant flu strain in circulation was not similar to the flu vaccine strain, deaths were not significantly reduced.
INFLUENZA DATA
According to the latest update of 18 November by the Higher Institute of Health (ISS), the number of cases of flu-like syndromes in Italy is increasing, in fact, the incidence is equal to 6.6 cases per 1,000 patients (4 ,8 in the previous week).
The circulation of flu viruses, therefore, intensifies but as the ISS points out, other respiratory viruses have also contributed to increasing the number of flu-like syndromes in these first weeks of surveillance.
To date, the pediatric age groups are most affected and in particular children under 5 years of age where an increase in the incidence of 19.6 cases per 1,000 assisted is observed.
PROTECT THE MOST FRAGILE FROM AVOIDABLE DEATHS
Massimo Volpe, president of the Italian Society of Cardiovascular Prevention (Siprec) recalled that the flu causes 5,000-15,000 deaths in Italy every year which "may seem few when compared to those caused by Covid-19, but they are not at all" because , he added, 'first of all, these are avoidable deaths; moreover, these deaths occur within the 3-4 months of circulation of the flu virus, therefore in a very limited period of time”.
And even if the flu vaccine has been somewhat overshadowed by those against Covid, Volpe considers the drop in flu vaccinations we are witnessing "very worrying" because "the idea that this disease means spending three days in bed" is wrong as even "the flu can become seriously complicated in the elderly and frail and for this reason it should not be underestimated".
This is a machine translation from Italian language of a post published on Start Magazine at the URL https://www.startmag.it/sanita/il-vaccino-antinfluenzale-protegge-anche-dal-peggioramento-di-malattie-cardiovascolari/ on Mon, 21 Nov 2022 11:55:45 +0000.