Flu shot halves heart attack and stroke risk among persons with a heart attack history

by Bruce Sylvester – A routine flu vaccine appears to lower the risk of heart attack or stroke by more than 50 per cent among persons who have had a heart attack, researchers reported on Oct. 22, 2013 in JAMA, the  Journal of the American Medical Association.

Lead investigator Jacob Udell, M.D., a cardiologist at Women’s College Hospital and clinician-scientist at the University of Toronto said, “Our study provides solid evidence that the flu shot helps prevent heart disease in vulnerable patients — with the best protection in the highest risk patients. These findings are extraordinary given the potential for this vaccine to serve as yearly preventative therapy for patients with heart disease, the leading cause of death among men and women in North America.”

The investigators performed a meta-analysis of data from six clinical trials on heart health among subjects who had received the flu vaccine. The studies included more than 6,700 subjects with a history of heart disease.

They found that the subjects who received the flu vaccine had a 36 per cent lower risk of a major cardiac event (heart attack, stroke, heart failure, or death from cardiac–related causes) one year later, a 55 per cent lower risk of a major cardiac event if they had a recent heart attack, and were less likely to die from cardiac-related and other causes.

Notably those who had been vaccinated with a more potent vaccine (compared with the standard seasonal vaccine) were even less likely to have a major cardiac event.

“If the flu vaccine can reduce the risk of cardiac events, these shots could have considerable impact on cardiac health,” said Dr. Udell said.

The researchers are organizing a clinical trial to follow heart disease patients for up to 12 months after receiving a flu shot.

“Hundreds of thousands of people die each year from cardiac causes in North America. While preventative care involves lifestyle changes and taking your pills, now, we may also be able to tell patients by getting your flu shot, it might save your life – what a simple and significant way to reduce deaths and the burden on our healthcare system,” Dr.Udell added.