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April 28, 2003

U.S. IMMUNIZATION NEWS

"Influenza Vaccination and Reduction in Hospitalizations for Cardiac Disease and Stroke Among the Elderly"

New England Journal of Medicine (www.nejm.org) (04/03/03) Vol. 348, No. 14, P. 1322; Nichol, Kristin L.; Nordin, James; Mullooly, John

The risk of ischemic heart disease and stroke rises with the contraction of upper respiratory tract illnesses like influenza.  Over two influenza seasons, researchers sought to discover whether the use of vaccines against the disease changed the risk of hospitalization for heart disease and stroke, hospitalization for pneumonia and influenza, and death from all causes.  Patients aged at least 65 years who were community-dwelling members of three large managed-care organizations were studied in the 1998-1999 and 1999-2000 flu seasons, using administrative and clinical information about their health during those periods.  The first season included 140,055 patients, of whom 55.5 percent were immunized against flu, and the second season included 146,328 patients, of whom 59.7 percent were immunized.  The average immunized patient was more likely to be sick, have a coexisting condition, require outpatient care, and have prior hospitalization for pneumonia.  However, unvaccinated patients were more likely to have a prior diagnosis of dementia or stroke.  During both seasons, immunization against influenza was associated with a reduction in the risk of hospitalization for cardiac disease by 19 percent, cerebrovascular disease by 16 percent during the first season and 23 percent in the second period, and pneumonia or influenza by 32 percent and 29 percent during the respective seasons.  The risk of death from all causes was lowered by 48 percent in 1998-1999 and by 50 percent in 1999-2000.  The findings show definitively that influenza vaccine leads to a lower risk of hospitalization for heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, and pneumonia or influenza, as well as the risk of death from all causes.

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