Mortality in HF hospitalization lower with prior flu, pneumonia vaccine
Click Here to Manage Email Alerts
Prior influenza or pneumococcal vaccination may be associated with lower rates of in-hospital mortality among patients with HF, according to research presented at the virtual European Society of Cardiology Congress.
"Our study provides further impetus for annual immunizations in patients with heart failure. Despite advice to do so, uptake remains low,” Karthik Gonuguntla, MD, resident physician at the University of Connecticut, said in a press release. “Although large administrative databases ... are prone to containing some errors, the data indicate that there is some distance to go before reaching 100% coverage."
The researchers analyzed 587,018 patients with HF (mean age, 71 years; 60% men; 53% white) from the National Inpatient Sample database between 2010 and 2014, of which approximately 1.4% received the influenza vaccine and another 1.4% received the pneumococcal vaccine.
Of the patients who received the influenza vaccine and were hospitalized for HF, 1.3% experienced in-hospital mortality compared with 3.6% of the unvaccinated group (P < .001), according to the researchers.
Moreover, 1.2% patients with HF who received a pneumococcal vaccine experienced in-hospital mortality compared with 3.6% of unvaccinated patients (P < .001).
"Pneumonia and flu vaccines are vital to preventing these respiratory infections and protecting patients with heart failure,” Gonuguntla said in the release. “Although many people have rejected common and safe vaccines before COVID-19, I am optimistic that the pandemic has changed perceptions about the role of immunizations in safeguarding our health."
Collapse
Gonuguntla K, et al. Abstract 86800. Presented at: European Society of Cardiology Congress; Aug. 29-Sept. 1, 2020 (virtual meeting).
Click Here to Manage Email Alerts