Influenza impact on heart is much more serious than thought, study claims

Influenza can lead to serious heart complications. Scientists have known this for a long time, but a new study by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and published in the Annals of Internal Medicine has confirmed this.

According to Medportal.ru, the authors of the study analyzed data on 80,000 patients who were hospitalized with the flu for 8 years. Sudden serious heart failure - acute heart failure or myocardial infarction - was recorded in 12% of patients, that is, in 1 out of 8. This issue was more serious than thought.

Moreover, complications from the heart developed in 5% of patients hospitalized with influenza who had no underlying cardiovascular diseases before influenza.

There was reason to believe that there was a link between influenza and heart problems. The research shows how common this problem is, said infectious disease specialist Eric Chow, co-author of the study. Chow previously worked with the influenza chains at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

New evidence highlights the need for an early seasonal flu vaccination, the study authors said.

Chow noted that he was not surprised that heart complications appear in previously healthy people who have had COVID-19. According to him, the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus can cause inflammation, which can lead to damage to various organs, including the heart. This inflammation makes the heart vulnerable to stress.

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