We’ve told you about a warning from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that influenza season continues to linger, no matter what the calendar says. A new study in JAMA Cardiology serves as reminder that it’s essential—and possibly lifesaving—to remain vigilant for related cardiovascular concerns, especially among heart failure patients with the flu. The authors of the study evaluated the connection between flu activity and hospitalizations for heart failure and myocardial infarction in four communities in which patients in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study are being treated, between October 2010 and September 2014. They found there was a 24% increase in hospitalizations for heart failure for every 5% increase in monthly flu activity. The effect was noted across age groups and community types (urban, suburban, and rural). The connection between flu and MI was not statistically significant, however.
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As Flu Season Hangs On, Be Vigilant for Patients with Influenza and Heart Failure