Scientific studies have shown that death from the flu is more common among people with cardiovascular disease than any other chronic condition, and the American Heart Association has released new guidelines recommending that all heart disease patients get flu shots.

Patients with cardiovascular disease should only receive the flu vaccine by injection, not the live, attenuated vaccine given as a nasal spray.The live vaccine has not been approved for use in cardiovascular patients.

Every year in the United States, about 36,000 people die from influenza (flu) and over 200,000 are hospitalized due to complications from it. These complications can include bacterial pneumonia, dehydration and worsening of chronic medical conditions, such as congestive heart failure, asthma or diabetes. Children may get sinus problems and ear infections.  According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), these high-risk individuals include:

• People 50 years and older
• People who live in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities that house those with long-term illnesses
• Adults and children 6 months and older with chronic heart or lung conditions, including asthma
• Adults and children 6 months and older who needed regular medical care or were in a hospital during the prior year because of a metabolic disease (like diabetes), chronic kidney disease, or weakened immune system (including immune system problems caused by medicines or by infection with human immunodeficiency virus [HIV/AIDS])
• Children 6 months to 18 years old who are on long-term aspirin therapy. (Children given aspirin while they have influenza are at risk of Reye syndrome.)
• Women who will be pregnant during the influenza season
• All children 6 to 59 months of age

October or November is the best time to get a flu shot, but getting a shot in January or even later can still be beneficial. Flu season can start as early as October and last as late as May.  In the United States, the peak of flu season can occur anywhere from late December through March.

Read the news release about flu and heart disease

Read the scientific advisory about flu and heart disease

For more information about the flu, go to www.cdc.gov/flu