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In spring 2002, NHW reported on preliminary research data linking flu shots to a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease and invited readers to complete the accompanying Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention surveys. Now new research helps confirm the vaccine's protective benefit. A study of more than 286,000 people older than 65 concludes that hospital stays for heart disease or stroke were substantially reduced for people who had flu vaccinations.
"Influenza may be even worse than we thought," said lead investigator Dr. Kristin Nichol of the Minneapolis Veterans Affairs Medical Center. "And flu shots might be even better than we thought."
More than half of those enrolled in managed-care plans in New York, Minneapolis, and Portland received shots for the 1998-99 and 1999-2000 flu seasons. After analyzing data from this population, researchers found that vaccinated individuals spent 19 percent less time in hospitals for heart disease and had half the risk of death from any cause than those who were unvaccinated. Hospital stays for stroke fell 16 percent the first year and 23 percent the second. Results are published in a recent issue of The New England Journal of Medicine.
In the NHW and Post surveys, 90 percent of readers reported receiving flu shots for each of the 1996 through 2002 flu seasons. Of that group, 58 percent reported no incidence of stroke, transient ischemic attack (TIA), heart attack, or angioplasty during the survey period. Twenty-nine percent of 14 unvaccinated readers reported heart disease, stroke, or TIAs. Survey respondents ranged in age from 46 to 96 years, with an average age of 75 years. A total of 125 surveys were tabulated.
"The NEJM study results offer even more reassurance and affirmation as to the importance of getting your flu shot annually," said Dr. William Schaffner, director of preventive medicine at the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine.
Flu shots are recommended for adults 50 and older.
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