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Consequence of the large flu outbreaks number of heart attacks significantly increased
The severe flu epidemic has ensured that in some places, the number of patients with heart attack has increased dramatically. According to medical experts, the risk of heart disease could be reduced by a flu shot.
Flu Wave ensures numerous hospital stays
The current flu epidemic has not only made countless people in bed with ailments such as cough, sore throat and fever, but also brought some patients to the hospital with far more dramatic consequences. For example, the number of people admitted to the Hannover Medical School (MHH) since the beginning of the year with influenza symptoms has risen by more than a third. To the same extent, the heart attack patients have increased during this period.
The current flu epidemic has led to a dramatic increase in lung and cardiac emergency patients. The vaccine used this season only insufficiently covers the flu. (Image: sudok1 / fotolia.com) Vaccine only insufficiently covers current flu
"In our Central Emergency Room, we have seen an increase of 38 percent in patients with influenza symptoms since the beginning of the year," said Professor Dr. Tobias Welte, director of the Department of Pulmonology, according to a message from the clinic.
The comparison period is the beginning of 2016. In addition, there has been a dramatic increase in worsening of obstructive airways diseases such as asthma or COPD and severe pneumonia due to influenza.
According to Professor Welte, two main reasons are responsible: On the one hand, the vaccination readiness has declined significantly, on the other hand, the flu vaccine used has only insufficiently covered this flu.
Number of heart attack patients has risen sharply
According to the statement, as a result of the flu epidemic, the numbers of patients with heart attacks also rose sharply in the first weeks of 2017.
"The number has grown from 56 heart attack patients in May and June 2016 to 75 in January and February 2017," said Professor Dr. Johann Bauersachs, director of the Department of Cardiology and Angiology, "even severe cases of acute heart failure by 50 percent."
Professor Axel Haverich, director of the Department of Cardiothoracic, Transplantation and Vascular Surgery, also confirms this trend: "In the past two months, we have had to provide more patients with a bypass."
Both chief physicians emphasized: "The flu vaccine clearly reduces the number of heart attacks in elderly or at-risk patients, but unfortunately it is not perceived sufficiently."
Vaccination especially for people from risk groups
Although it does not offer 100% protection, it is recommended by the Standing Vaccination Commission (STIKO) especially for high-risk groups (pregnant women, people over 60 and people with chronic diseases). The recommendation mainly concerns medical and nursing staff.
The Robert Koch Institute (RKI) wrote about the efficacy of the vaccine of the current season: "Even though the vaccine protects less than half of the vaccinated from influenza disease, the vaccine can cause a large increase in the incidence of influenza Number of diseases can be prevented. "
Multiplication of diseases
In addition to the flu epidemic, other viral infections play a role this winter, which is also felt in the MHH. "Among our doctors and nursing staff, the number of sick leave has been significantly higher in recent months," says Professor Bauersachs.
"The annually recurring virus epidemics, influenza or other pathogens, lead to a multiplication of diseases that burden the medical practices, but also the hospitals far beyond the normal level," said Professor Welte.
Therefore, it comes increasingly to waiting times. "Our health system lacks structures to respond to the temporary increase in patient numbers." (Ad)