Heart failure: Flu shot may slash death risk
A current analysis of several studies investigates whether people with heart failure who get vaccinated in the flu season are less exposed to the risk of premature death.
Scientists from the Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences in Nagoya, Japan, have now conducted an analysis of pre-existing studies related to the connection between the risk of all-cause death among those with heart failure and inoculation against seasonal flu strains.
The recent findings — which will be presented at the American College of Cardiology's 67th Annual Scientific Session, due to be held in Orlando, FL — imply that the risk of all-cause mortality among people with heart failure in the flu season is slashed by half after vaccination against influenza.
It is well known that influenza infection is associated with increased risk for mortality in heart failure patients. Given the high mortality rate and the relatively low influenza vaccination rates in heart failure patients worldwide, our study supports a wider use of influenza vaccination in heart failure patients."
Lead study author Hidekatsu Fukuta
