Can Vaccination Reduce Heart Attack Risk?
Which preventative strategy is most effective for preventing acute myocardial infarction in individuals with cardiovascular disease?
a. statins
b. flu shot
c. antihypertensive therapy
d. smoking cessation
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Answer: b
Studies have consistently shown that patients who have a heart attack are twice as likely to have recently battled the flu, according to Dr. Raina MacIntyre, of the University of New South Wales in Australia. Dr. MacIntyre said a number of the flu’s mechanisms of actions are thought to contribute to risk of acute myocardial infarction (AMI), including increased heart rate, lowered blood oxygen levels, the release of inflammatory cytokines that disrupt coronary artery plaques, increased blood clotting, and constriction of blood vessels. Her recent study found that individuals with cardiovascular disease who received the flu vaccine were 29% less likely to have a heart attack. It also noted that statins reduced the risk of heart attack by 25%, blood pressure medications by 18%, and kicking the smoking habit by 26%.
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Dr. MacIntyre said flu vaccine is known as a safe and cost-effective intervention for preventing flu and respiratory illnesses, but remains underutilized for the prevention of AMI in patients with cardiovascular disease — vaccination rates are only in the 30% range among those younger than 65 years — despite having the same range of effectiveness as other more accepted interventions. That must change, according to Dr. MacIntyre, who said a paradigm shift is needed for flu vaccine to be considered a routine preventive strategy for patients at high risk of heart attack.
Source
Influenza vaccine as a coronary intervention for prevention of myocardial infarction. Heart. https://bit.ly/2eazhzI
