In addition to adjusting for demographic, social and clinical characteristics, investigators also studied the summer months, when the occurrence of influenza is low, to better understand the differences between people with type 2 diabetes who received and did not receive influenza vaccine.
Advertisement
The researchers based their conclusion on the findings of a study conducted on 124, 503 adults in the United Kingdom who were diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes between 2003 and 2010.
Vaccination was associated with a 30 percent lower hospital admission rates for stroke, 22 percent lower rates for heart failure, and 15 percent lower rates for pneumonia or influenza, researchers report in CMAJ.
As well, people who were vaccinated had a 24% lower death rate than patients who were not vaccinated.
Vamos said that flu vaccine may not only lower incidences of stroke and heart attack in high risk patients, but it may also reduce the risk of death during the flu season.
The findings do highlight the importance and benefits of vaccination, adding weight to the proven concept of vaccination as a form of protection, not just for the flu itself, but from complications in other chronic conditions too. Every year we hear about how important it is to get one.
The researchers noted that by increasing the number of people who receive the influenza vaccine per year, it is possible to further lower the risks of severe illnesses that are not otherwise addressed by other means. People with diabetes have up to three times higher risk of suffering from heart failure and stroke.
Furthermore, flu infection has been found to increase the risk of heart attack or stroke in patients with cardiovascular disease, although scientists are unsure why.
There are few studies that have assessed the effectiveness of the influenza vaccine in people with diabetes. “The flu vaccine is available free to these patients from Global Positioning System and pharmacists, and patients with diabetes should ensure they receive the vaccine every year”.
A public health researcher at the University of Toronto suggested that it is essential for diabetes patients to take this vaccination on a regular basis because they are more likely to suffer great complications from the flu.
Advertisement
The research was supported by the NIHR Collaboration for Leadership in Applied Health Research and Care Scheme (CLAHRC) Northwest London and the NIHR Imperial Biomedical Research Centre (BRC).
