Preventative Medicine

Question 1

Does influenza vaccination reduce the risk of cardiovascular events?

Answer 1

Yes - particularly for patient with history of ACS.

For every 100 persons given influenza vaccine within 1 mo post ACS 2 fewer will experience CV events and 2 fewer will die at 1 year compared to placebo.
The impact of influenza vaccine in primary CV prevention and other CV conditions are less clear.

Secondary prevention ACS:
1) reduce all cause mortality RRR 45% (2.9% vs. 4.9%)
2) reduced CV events RRR 35% (5.3% vs 7.2%)

Can Fam Phy Vol 69 Oct 2023: Influenza vaccination for the prevention of CV events.