AHA News: Flu May Play Part in Plaque-Rupturing Heart Attacks
THURSDAY, April 8, 2021 (American Heart Association News) -- Getting a flu vaccine can reduce the risk of a common type of heart attack in people 60 and older, according to new research that suggests the virus plays a role in rupturing plaque.
In a study published Thursday in the Journal of the American Heart Association, researchers in Spain used data from five consecutive flu seasons and zeroed in on 8,240 people who had Type 1 heart attacks. They found flu and cold temperatures were each independently associated with an increased risk of that kind of heart attack, and flu shots could reduce that risk among people 60 and up.
"Our results suggest influenza viruses play a major role in plaque rupture," said study author Dr. J Alberto García-Lledó, head of cardiology at Hospital Universitario Príncipe de Asturias in Madrid. "The study reinforces the need to conduct prevention campaigns during cold waves and influenza seasons. The most important prevention tool we have is influenza vaccination."
García-Lledó said health experts usually aim for a 60%-70% flu vaccination rate for people over 60 as well as people with high-risk conditions and health care workers.
"Sadly, these targets are not met in Europe or the U.S. It's important to try to reach this target and, if possible, exceed it," he said. "Influenza is not a trivial disease. It causes many preventable deaths for reasons other than the respiratory disease itself."
A 2018 study found the risk of heart attack was six times higher within a week of confirmed flu infection. The findings were most pronounced for older adults and those experiencing their first heart attack. A study published last year of more than 80,000 U.S. adults hospitalized with flu over eight flu seasons found that sudden, serious heart complications were common and occurred in 1 in 8 patients.
The American College of Cardiology and American Heart Association have long recommended the flu vaccine to protect against cardiovascular disease complications. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends annual flu vaccination for everyone 6 months and older.
In late March, the CDC said weekly flu infections in the U.S. were "unusually low." But the agency cautioned that COVID-19 has made measuring flu cases more difficult, and it warned flu activity could rise in coming months.
While flu season typically peaks between December and February, it can last as late as May, which is why the CDC still urges people to get a flu shot this spring.
Dr. Daniel Muñoz said the new study in Madrid was limited by being done in a single metro area with a temperate climate.
"It would be interesting to see whether these data can be replicated across a diverse array of geographic locations," said Muñoz, an associate professor of cardiology at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville who was not involved in the research.
But he said it was "a smart, thoughtful study that shines further light on the notion that the flu is an infection that affects the whole body. It contributes to the growing body of evidence that flu vaccinations save lives."
The research also underscores the need for medical professionals "to think outside of our clinical comfort zone," Muñoz said.
"As cardiologists, we learn the traditional tried-and-true risk factors, like smoking, diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol. But we also have to keep our eyes wide open about other risk factors. We have to ask our patients, 'Have you gotten your flu vaccination?' And when necessary, educate them about the benefits of getting one."
American Heart Association News covers heart and brain health. Not all views expressed in this story reflect the official position of the American Heart Association. Copyright is owned or held by the American Heart Association, Inc., and all rights are reserved. If you have questions or comments about this story, please email [email protected].
By Thor Christensen
"Hakuna shaka kwamba virusi vya corona vinaweza kuathiri kwa kiasi kikubwa ugonjwa wa moyo, ""Alisema, ""Kupata chanjo ya homa inaweza kupunguza hatari ya aina ya kawaida ya mshtuko wa moyo kwa watu wenye umri wa miaka 60 na zaidi, kulingana na utafiti mpya ambao unaonyesha kwamba virusi vina jukumu katika kuvunja plaque." Katika utafiti uliochapishwa katika jarida la American Heart Association, watafiti wa Uhispania walitumia data kutoka misimu mitano ya mafua mfululizo na kugundua watu 8,240 waliopata mshtuko wa moyo wa aina ya 1. Ugonjwa wa homa na baridi kali huunganishwa na hatari ya mshtuko wa moyo, na chanjo ya homa inaweza kupunguza hatari hiyo kwa watu wenye umri wa miaka 60 na zaidi. "Mafunzo yetu yanaonyesha virusi vya mafua hutimiza fungu kubwa katika kuvunjika kwa plaque, ""alisema mwandishi wa utafiti Dk J. Alberto García-Lledó, mkuu wa idara ya moyo katika Hospitali ya Chuo Kikuu ya Príncipe de Asturias huko Madrid." "Utafiti huo unaimarisha uhitaji wa kufanya kampeni za kuzuia wakati wa mawimbi ya baridi na majira ya mafua. Kifaa muhimu zaidi cha kuzuia ambacho tuna ni chanjo ya mafua". "Mtaalamu huyo wa afya amesema ""kwa kawaida lengo ni kiwango cha chanjo ya homa ya 60% hadi 70% kwa watu wenye umri wa zaidi ya miaka 60, pamoja na watu wenye hali ya hatari na wafanyakazi wa huduma za afya.""" "Kwa kusikitisha, malengo haya hayajatimizwa katika Ulaya au Marekani Ni muhimu kujaribu kufikia lengo hili na, ikiwezekana, kuizidi", alisema. "Homa si ugonjwa usio na maana. Inasababisha vifo vingi vinavyoweza kuepukwa kwa sababu nyingine mbali na ugonjwa wa njia za kupumua yenyewe". Utafiti wa mwaka 2018 uligundua kuwa hatari ya kupatwa na mshtuko wa moyo ni mara sita zaidi katika wiki moja baada ya kuambukizwa virusi vya mafua. Matokeo hayo yalithibitika zaidi kwa watu wazima wazee na wale waliopata mshtuko wa moyo wa kwanza. Utafiti uliofanywa mwaka jana uliohusisha watu wazima zaidi ya 80,000 nchini Marekani waliopelekwa hospitalini kwa sababu ya mafua zaidi ya misimu minane ya mafua uligundua kuwa matatizo ya moyo ya ghafla na makubwa yalikuwa ya kawaida na yalitokea kwa mgonjwa mmoja kati ya wagonjwa wanane. Chuo cha American College of Cardiology na Chama cha American Heart Association vimependekeza chanjo ya mafua ili kulinda dhidi ya matatizo ya ugonjwa wa moyo na mishipa. Kituo cha Kudhibiti na Kuzuia Magonjwa kinapendekeza chanjo ya homa ya kila mwaka kwa kila mtu mwenye umri wa miezi sita na zaidi. "Mwezi Machi, CDC ilisema ""kiwango cha maambukizi ya mafua ya kila wiki nchini Marekani ni cha chini sana.""" "Lakini shirika hilo lilionya kwamba COVID-19 imefanya kupima visa vya mafua kuwa ngumu zaidi, na ilionya shughuli za mafua zinaweza kuongezeka katika miezi ijayo. """ Wakati msimu wa mafua kwa kawaida hufikia kilele kati ya Desemba na Februari, inaweza kuendelea hadi Mei, na kwa hivyo CDC bado inawahimiza watu kupata chanjo ya mafua msimu huu wa majira ya kuchipua. "Daktari Daniel Muñoz alisema utafiti huo mpya huko Madrid ulikuwa mdogo kwa kuwa ulifanywa katika eneo moja la metro na hali ya hewa ya wastani. """ "Ni muhimu kuona kama data hii inaweza kuiga katika maeneo mbalimbali ya kijiografia, ""alisema Muñoz, profesa msaidizi wa cardiology katika Vanderbilt Chuo Kikuu cha Medical Center katika Nashville, ambaye hakuwa na kushiriki katika utafiti." "Lakini alisema ilikuwa ""mafunzo ya busara, yenye kufikiri ambayo yanaangaza mwangaza zaidi juu ya wazo kwamba mafua ni maambukizo ambayo huathiri mwili wote.""" "Hii ni sehemu ya ushahidi unaozidi kuongezeka kwamba chanjo ya mafua huokoa maisha.""" Muñoz alisema kwamba utafiti huo pia unasisitiza uhitaji wa wataalamu wa kitiba "kufikiri nje ya eneo letu la starehe la kitiba". "Kama wataalamu wa moyo, tunajifunza mambo ya kawaida ya hatari, kama vile kuvuta sigara, kisukari, shinikizo la juu la damu na kolesteroli ya juu. """ Lakini pia tunapaswa kuwa macho wazi juu ya sababu nyingine za hatari. Ni lazima tuwaulize wagonjwa wetu, 'Je, umepokea chanjo ya mafua?' Na inapohitajika, wafundishe kuhusu faida za kupata moja". Habari za Chama cha Moyo cha Marekani hufunika afya ya moyo na ubongo. Si maoni yote yaliyoonyeshwa katika hadithi hii yanayoonyesha msimamo rasmi wa Shirika la Moyo la Marekani. Haki za uchapaji zinamilikiwa au zinashikiliwa na Chama cha Moyo cha Amerika, Inc., na haki zote zimehifadhiwa. Ikiwa una maswali au maoni kuhusu makala hii, tafadhali tumia barua pepe kwa [email protected]. Kwa Thor Christensen