Flu shots lower CVD risk, new meta-analysis confirms

Seasonal influenza (flu) vaccines lower a person’s risk of developing cardiovascular disease (CVD), according to new findings published in JAMA Network Open.[1]

The study’s authors tracked data from six different randomized controlled trials, including a large multicenter trial from 2021 that focused on myocardial infarction patients, for their analysis. A total of 9,001 patients were included in the meta-analysis. The mean patient age was 65.5 years old, 57.5% of patients were men and 52.3% had a history of cardiovascular complications.

Almost exactly half of the patient population — 50.1%, to be exact — received a flu vaccine. The major adverse cardiovascular event (MACE) rate after one year was 3.6% among patients given a flu vaccine and 5.4% among patients given a placebo or control. Also, 1.7% of flu vaccine patients and 2.5% of all other patients died from cardiovascular causes

The flu vaccine’s impact was especially significant among patients with a recent history of acute coronary syndrome (ACS). The one-year MACE rate among vaccinated patients with recent ACS was 6.5%, nearly half of the one-year MACE rate among unvaccinated patients with recent ACS (11%).

The authors noted that the impact of flu vaccines on MACE rates and cardiovascular mortality was comparable with “guideline-recommended mainstays of cardiovascular therapy, such as aspirin, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, beta-blockers, statins and dual antiplatelet therapy.”

Michael Walter
Michael Walter, Managing Editor

Michael has more than 16 years of experience as a professional writer and editor. He has written at length about cardiology, radiology, artificial intelligence and other key healthcare topics.

Around the web

Ron Blankstein, MD, professor of radiology, Harvard Medical School, explains the use of artificial intelligence to detect heart disease in non-cardiac CT exams.

 

Eleven medical societies have signed on to a consensus statement aimed at standardizing imaging for suspected cardiovascular infections.

Kate Hanneman, MD, explains why many vendors and hospitals want to lower radiology's impact on the environment. "Taking steps to reduce the carbon footprint in healthcare isn’t just an opportunity," she said. "It’s also a responsibility."

Trimed Popup
Trimed Popup