tetano
Editor, Senior Moderator
JRSM Cardiovasc Dis
. 2025 Dec 24:14:20480040251407014.
doi: 10.1177/20480040251407014. eCollection 2025 Jan-Dec. Association between influenza infection and cardiovascular diseases: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Mohsen Mohammadi[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Nazanin Kianifard[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Amin Fazlzadeh[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Amal Mechaal[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Morteza Sheikhi Nooshabadi[SUP] 5 [/SUP], Hamid Parsa[SUP] 6 [/SUP], Seema Advani[SUP] 7 [/SUP], Marjan Nourigorji[SUP] 8 [/SUP], Kimia Pakdaman[SUP] 8 [/SUP], Nahid Samadi[SUP] 9 [/SUP], Andarz Fazlollahpour Naghibi[SUP] 9 [/SUP], Vahid Fallah Omrani[SUP] 10 [/SUP], Pouyan Ebrahimi[SUP] 8 [/SUP], Ali Rostami[SUP] 9 [/SUP]
Affiliations
Objectives: Influenza infection may increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), but the extent of this link is uncertain. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to quantify the association between influenza infection and CVDs.
Methods: We conducted a comprehensive search of major databases from inception to 2024, identifying studies that investigated the association between influenza infection and CVDs. Eligible studies included cohort, case-control, and randomized controlled trials reporting on cardiovascular outcomes (acute CVDs) following influenza infection or risk of influenza infection in CVD patients (chronic CVDs). Data were extracted and pooled using random-effects models, and heterogeneity was assessed using the I [SUP]2[/SUP] statistic.
Results: A total of 11 studies (15 datasets) involving 7327 participants were included in the meta-analysis. Overall, influenza infection was significantly associated with CVDs based on 10 datasets (odds ratio (OR) = 1.76, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.02-3.03). However, the analysis of the five datasets indicated no significant association between pre-existing CVDs and an increased risk of influenza infection (OR = 0.91, 95% CI: 0.80-1.03). Subgroup analyses and meta-regression highlighted that study quality and design could significantly influence the risk of developing CVDs among patients with influenza.
Conclusions: This meta-analysis provides quantitative evidence that influenza infection could be a potential risk factor for subsequent cardiovascular events. These findings emphasize the need for preventive measures, including vaccination, especially in high-risk populations. Further research is needed to explore the underlying mechanisms and impact of influenza on cardiovascular outcomes.
Keywords: Influenza infection; association; cardiovascular diseases; meta-analysis, systematic review.
. 2025 Dec 24:14:20480040251407014.
doi: 10.1177/20480040251407014. eCollection 2025 Jan-Dec. Association between influenza infection and cardiovascular diseases: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Mohsen Mohammadi[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Nazanin Kianifard[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Amin Fazlzadeh[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Amal Mechaal[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Morteza Sheikhi Nooshabadi[SUP] 5 [/SUP], Hamid Parsa[SUP] 6 [/SUP], Seema Advani[SUP] 7 [/SUP], Marjan Nourigorji[SUP] 8 [/SUP], Kimia Pakdaman[SUP] 8 [/SUP], Nahid Samadi[SUP] 9 [/SUP], Andarz Fazlollahpour Naghibi[SUP] 9 [/SUP], Vahid Fallah Omrani[SUP] 10 [/SUP], Pouyan Ebrahimi[SUP] 8 [/SUP], Ali Rostami[SUP] 9 [/SUP]
Affiliations
- PMID: 41466600
- PMCID: PMC12743791
- DOI: 10.1177/20480040251407014
Objectives: Influenza infection may increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), but the extent of this link is uncertain. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to quantify the association between influenza infection and CVDs.
Methods: We conducted a comprehensive search of major databases from inception to 2024, identifying studies that investigated the association between influenza infection and CVDs. Eligible studies included cohort, case-control, and randomized controlled trials reporting on cardiovascular outcomes (acute CVDs) following influenza infection or risk of influenza infection in CVD patients (chronic CVDs). Data were extracted and pooled using random-effects models, and heterogeneity was assessed using the I [SUP]2[/SUP] statistic.
Results: A total of 11 studies (15 datasets) involving 7327 participants were included in the meta-analysis. Overall, influenza infection was significantly associated with CVDs based on 10 datasets (odds ratio (OR) = 1.76, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.02-3.03). However, the analysis of the five datasets indicated no significant association between pre-existing CVDs and an increased risk of influenza infection (OR = 0.91, 95% CI: 0.80-1.03). Subgroup analyses and meta-regression highlighted that study quality and design could significantly influence the risk of developing CVDs among patients with influenza.
Conclusions: This meta-analysis provides quantitative evidence that influenza infection could be a potential risk factor for subsequent cardiovascular events. These findings emphasize the need for preventive measures, including vaccination, especially in high-risk populations. Further research is needed to explore the underlying mechanisms and impact of influenza on cardiovascular outcomes.
Keywords: Influenza infection; association; cardiovascular diseases; meta-analysis, systematic review.