New study: Flu vaccine may prevent stroke
A recent study in Spain revealed that the flu vaccine may protect against stroke, based on data from more than 75,000 people over the age of forty, including thousands of stroke sufferers.
The results of the study, prepared by Spanish experts, showed that people who received the vaccination were 12% less likely to suffer from a life-threatening event, compared to people who decided not to get the annual increase.
With flu season approaching, experts said the findings provide "another reason for people to get their annual flu shot".
The Alcalá University project in Madrid, described as "disguised", was published online in the Journal of Neuroscience.
The study was just an observation, which means the researchers couldn't prove that the doses were definitely behind the reduced risk.
Dr. Francisco de Abajo and colleagues acknowledged that it was possible that other factors were at play.
Previous studies have shown that the flu itself can increase the risk of stroke, suggesting that doses may simply help prevent it by preventing people from getting sick in the first place.
The team suggested that, in theory, there could be a separate way in which vaccination works to reduce the risk.
Strokes occur when a vein blockage or a burst blood vessel stops blood from reaching the brain.
It is usually triggered by a buildup of cholesterol or high blood pressure, which gradually weakens and narrows the arteries over time.
Pharmacist Dr. de Abajo said: "Being able to reduce the risk of stroke by taking such a simple measure is very compelling. This observational study suggests that those who have had influenza have a reduced risk of stroke."
To determine whether this is due to a protective effect of the vaccine itself or to other factors, more research is needed.
The latest research looked at 14,322 people who had had a stroke, the most common type.
It is caused by a blood clot affecting the flow to the brain.
The academics matched these with a control group of 71,610 people who had not already had a stroke.
They tracked whether patients received a flu shot at least two weeks before their stroke, or before the same date for those who did not have it.
According to "Russia Today", the results showed that 41.4 percent of those who had a stroke received a dose, compared to 40.5% of those who did not have a stroke.
Although the risk appeared slightly greater in the flu vaccine group, many patients tended to be older and had high blood pressure and cholesterol, two major risk factors for stroke.
The final analysis took into account these factors.
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