[Flu vaccination in patients with acute coronary syndromes: treatment benefit in prespecified subgroups]

Abstract

Background: The first prospective clinical Flu Vaccination in Acute Coronary Syndromes (FLUVACS) Trial has provided some evidence that flu vaccination together with standard therapy may be useful during the winter season to reduce the risk of death and major cardiac events in patients with acute myocardial infarction.

Patients and method: Information available in the FLUVACS database was analyzed to evaluate the efficacy of flu vaccination in different subgroups. Logistic regression was used to identify features related with better therapeutic results.

Results: Flu vaccination was effective in reducing the incidence of the composite endpoint (death, nonfatal myocardial reinfarction or recurrent angina prompting urgent revascularization) in most subgroups at 6 months after inclusion. The regression model showed a greater benefit of flu vaccination in patients with no ST-segment elevation or older than 65 years, nonsmokers and patients with a TIMI risk score higher than 6.

Conclusions: Our data suggest that vaccination for secondary prevention of flu during the acute phase of myocardial infarction may be effective in a broad range of patients with acute coronary artery disease, regardless of their initial clinical risk.