Influenza vaccination reduces hospitalization for acute coronary syndrome in elderly patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a population-based cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Elderly patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are at a higher risk of hospitalization for cardiovascular complications, especially during respiratory infections. Previous studies showed that vaccination for influenza may reduce the risk of recurrent major cardiovascular events in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the hypothesis that influenza vaccination could reduce hospitalizations for ACS in elderly patients with COPD. METHOD: Using the Taiwan Longitudinal Health Insurance Database 1996-2008, this cohort study comprised elderly patients (≥ 55 years old) with a recorded diagnosis of COPD (n=7722) between January 1, 2000 and December 31, 2007. Each patient was followed until the end of 2007. A propensity score was derived by using a logistic regression model to reduce vaccine therapy selection bias. The hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) for the association between the influenza vaccination and the occurrence of first hospitalization for ACS in elderly COPD patients was examined by Cox proportional hazards regression analysis. In addition, we categorized the patients into four groups according to vaccination status (unvaccinated, total number of vaccinations: 1, 2-3, and ≥ 4). RESULTS: We found that elderly patients with COPD receiving influenza vaccination had a lower risk of hospitalization for ACS (adjusted HR=0.46, 95% CI (0.39-0.55), p < 0.001). We observed similar protective effects in both sexes and all age groups (55-64, 65-74, ≥ 75) regardless of influenza seasonality. When the patients were stratified according to the total number of vaccinations, the adjusted HRs for hospitalization because of ACS were 0.48 (0.38-0.62) and 0.20 (0.14-0.28) for patients who received 2-3 and ≥ 4 vaccinations during the follow-up period. CONCLUSION: Our data showed that there was a lower risk of ACS hospitalization in elderly patients with COPD receiving annual influenza vaccination.

Double coronary artery thrombosis presenting as acute extensive anterior ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction.

Simultaneous thrombosis of more than one coronary artery is an uncommon angiographic finding in acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), and usually leads to cardiogenic shock or even sudden cardiac death. We reported a 56-year-old man presenting with persistent chest tightness and ST-segment elevation over precordial leads in electrocardiography (ECG). Emergent coronary angiogram showed total occlusion of both the proximal right coronary artery (RCA) and the proximal left anterior descending artery (LAD). We performed thrombus aspiration and stenting over the LAD with thrombolysis in myocardial infarction (TIMI) III flow to the distal LAD. However, diminishing collateral flow to the distal RCA complicated with complete atrioventricular block (CAVB) and cardiogenic shock developed thereafter. Because distal embolization of the collateral circulation from the LAD to the distal RCA was suspected, thrombus aspiration and stenting over the proximal RCA were performed. After reperfusion of the RCA, the patient's hemodynamic status stabilized and he recovered uneventfully.