Common medical non-communicable diseases that may increase the risk of problems with influenza.
Non-communicable diseases like cardiac and respiratory disease, neurological and immunocompromising conditions, diabetes and other metabolic disorders, renal disease and haematological disorders combined with influenza can increase a person’s risk of serious illness from influenza. In addition, influenza can also make chronic health conditions worse. For example, people with asthma may be more likely to experience asthma attacks while they have the flu, and if people with chronic congestive heart failure get sick with the flu, they could experience a worsening of this condition.
APACI Fact Sheet. Influenza and cardiovascular disease
APACI Fact Sheet. Influenza and diabetes
Recent Articles
Chen KY, Wu SM, Liu JC, Lee KY.
Effect of annual influenza vaccination on reducing lung cancer in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease from a population-based cohort study.
Medicine (Baltimore). 2019;98(47):e18035. doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000018035
Cheng, Yangyang, et al.
Effects of influenza vaccination on the risk of cardiovascular and respiratory diseases and all-cause mortality.
Age Res Rev. Vol 62, Sept 2020.
doi.org/10.1016/j.arr.2020.101124
Fan Jing, et al.
Influenza vaccination rate and its association with chronic diseases in China: Results of a national cross-sectional study.
Vaccine. 38(11): 2503-11, 4 Mar 2020. doi.org/10.1016/j.vaccine.2020.01.093
Luo C, Chi C, Fang Y, et al.
Influenza vaccination reduces dementia in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a nationwide cohort study.
J Invest Med. 2020;68:838-845.
MacIntyre CR, Mahimbo A, Moa AM, Barnes M.
Influenza vaccine as a coronary intervention for prevention of myocardial infarction.
Heart. 2016;102(24):1953-1956. doi:10.1136/heartjnl-2016-309983
Pang, Yuanijie et al.
Influenza vaccination protects against hospitalization outcomes among older patients with cardiovascular or respiratory diseases.
J Infect Dis, Aug 2020. doi.org/10.1093/infdis/jiaa493
Tsai LW, Chen YT, Shih CJ, Ou SM, Chao PW, Lo SH.
Statin Use and Influenza Vaccine Effectiveness in Persons >65 Years of Age, Taiwan.
Emerg Infect Dis. 2020;26(6):1243-1250. doi:10.3201/eid2606.190646
Walker, TA. et al.
Risk of Severe Influenza Among Adults With Chronic Medical Conditions.
J Infect Dis. Jan 2020; 221(2):183-90. doi.org/10.1093/infdis/jiz570.
Wang Y, Cheng M, Wang S, et al.
Vaccination coverage with the pneumococcal and influenza vaccine among persons with chronic diseases in Shanghai, China, 2017.
BMC Public Health. 2020;20(1):359. Published 2020 Mar 19. doi:10.1186/s12889-020-8388-3.
Wang YH, Ye KY, Wang SY, et al.
Real world study of influenza vaccination intervention among key population of chronic disease management in Shanghai community.
Zhonghua yu Fang yi xue za zhi Chinese Journal of Preventive Medicine. 2020 Apr;54(4):425-429. doi: 10.3760/cma.j.cn112150-20191031-00828.
(Updated 27 August 2020)