title: Influenza vaccination is not associated with a reduction in the risk of recurrent coronary events.
abstract: Acute respiratory infections, including influenza, have been suggested as possible precipitants of acute cardiac events. To evaluate whether influenza vaccination prevents recurrent coronary events, the authors conducted a population-based inception cohort study of 1,378 Group Health Cooperative enrollees who survived a first myocardial infarction in 1992 through 1996. Recurrent coronary events, influenza vaccinations, and other covariates were identified by chart review and from administrative data systems. A Cox proportional hazards model was used to evaluate the association of receipt of each year's influenza vaccine with subsequent risk of recurrent myocardial infarction and death from atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. A total of 127 recurrent coronary events were identified during the median 2.3-year follow-up period. Influenza vaccination was not associated with risk of recurrent coronary events during the corresponding period of November through October (adjusted hazard ratio (HR) = 1.18, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.79, 1.75) or during the corresponding periods of expected influenza activity (November through April) (HR = 1.06, 95% CI: 0.63, 1.78) or inactivity (May through October) (HR = 1.34, 95% CI: 0.76, 2.36). These results suggest that the benefit of influenza vaccine for older adults does not extend to protection against recurrent coronary events.
authors.affiliation: Center for Health Studies, Group Health Cooperative, Seattle, WA 98101-1448, USA. lajack@u.washington.edu
authors.forename: Lisa A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Jackson
authors.forename: Onchee
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Susan R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Heckbert
authors.forename: Bruce M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Psaty
authors.forename: Darren
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Malais
authors.forename: William E
authors.initials: WE
authors.lastname: Barlow
authors.forename: William W
authors.initials: WW
authors.lastname: Thompson
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007252:Influenza Vaccines; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000517:prevention & control; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D012008:Recurrence; D012307:Risk Factors; D014861:Washington / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D007252:Influenza Vaccines