TNMGC

Heart doi:10.1136/heartjnl-2016-309983
Review
Influenza vaccine as a coronary intervention for prevention of myocardial infarction

Abstract
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality globally.

Influenza is one of the leading infectious causes of morbidity and mortality globally, and evidence is accumulating that it can precipitate acute myocardial infarction (AMI).
This is thought to be due to a range of factors including inflammatory release of cytokines, disruption of atherosclerotic plaques and thrombogenesis, which may acutely occlude a coronary artery.[/size]

There is a large body of observational and clinical trial evidence that shows that influenza vaccine protects against AMI.

Estimates of the efficacy of influenza vaccine in preventing AMI range from 15% to 45%. This is a similar range of efficacy compared with the accepted routine coronary prevention measures such as smoking cessation (32–43%), statins (19–30%) and antihypertensive therapy (17–25%).

Influenza vaccine should be considered as an integral part of CVD management and prevention.

While it is recommended in many guidelines for patients with CVD, rates of vaccination in risk groups aged <65 years are very low, in the range of 30%. The incorporation of vaccination into routine CVD prevention in patient care requires a clinical practice paradigm change.

G Mohan.

Am I correct in saying that the strain of influenza virus affecting people every year changes. It therefore becomes necessary for the researchers to identify the strain each year and produce a vaccine for that strain. This would make it difficult for anyone to keep up with the changes unless there was a system in the health service of the country that will inform the population of the new strain and the vaccine for it.

Agreed.