Flu Shot May Help Protect Diabetics From CV Hospitalization

This study shows that it may significantly reduce cardiovascular illness and death during flu season, and thus it is very important for this high-risk population to get vaccinated, she stressed. < /p > < p > Dr Jacob A Udell (Peter Munk Cardiac Centre and Cardiovascular Division, University Health Network, and University of Toronto, ON), who was not involved with this study, agrees. These observational data provide " positive reinforcement of why we should be getting patients vaccinated, particularly patients who aren ' t over 65 but have diabetes, " he told < b > heart < em > wire < /em > < /b > . < /p > < p > Before flu season starts, cardiologists, internists, and endocrinologists should ask their patients if they have received a flu shot, and if not, should offer it at their local sites. " I strongly believe it should be considered a performance measure in our system, " similar to screening for high cholesterol, he added. This study shows " no harm and certainly potential benefit " if all adult diabetic patients get a flu shot. Moreover, " we shouldn ' t be satisfied with just a 65% vaccination rate, " he said. < /p > < p > Udell is an investigator in the < a href= " https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02787044?term=Influenza+Vaccine+to+Effectively+Stop+Cardio+Thoracic+Events+and+Decompensated+Heart+Failure & amp;rank=1 " > Influenza Vaccine to Effectively Stop Cardio Thoracic Events and Decompensated Heart Failure < /a > (INVESTED), which is just getting under w...
Source: Dr Portnay - Category: Cardiology Authors: Source Type: blogs