The Flu Can Trigger a Heart Attack

Individuals with influenza virus have an increased risk for acute myocardial infarction (MI) in the first week following their influenza diagnosis, a new study found.

The results of this study are consistent with previous findings on the association of acute respiratory infections with acute MI.
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For their study, the researchers identified 364 hospitalizations for myocardial infarction that had occurred within 1 year before or after a positive test result for influenza. Influenza infection was confirmed in respiratory specimens using various high-specificity laboratory methods. Administrative data was used to confirm hospitalizations for acute MI.

Results indicated that 20 (20.0 admissions per week) occurred within the first 7 days (risk interval) following respiratory specimen collection, and 344 (3.3 admissions per week) occurred 1 year before or after an influenza diagnosis (control interval). The incidence ratio of an admission for acute MI within the first 7 days post-diagnosis was 6.05 compared with the control interval, and no increased incidence of MI was observed after day 7.

The researchers noted that the incidence ratios for acute MI in the 7 days post-diagnosis for influenza B, influenza A, respiratory syncytial virus, and other viruses were 10.11, 5.17, 3.51, and 2.77, respectively.

“We found a significant association between respiratory infections, especially influenza, and acute myocardial infarction,” the researchers concluded.

—Christina Vogt

Reference:

Kwong JC, Schwartz KL, Campitelli MA, et al. Acute myocardial infarction after laboratory-confirmed influenza infection [Published online January 25, 2018]. N Eng J Med. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa1702090.