Flu Hospitalization High Among People With Chronic Diseases

Leading health organizations are urging people to get a flu shot if they haven’t already done so. Compared to last year’s mild flu season, the U.S. has already seen more than three times the number of flu-related deaths. While seasonal influenza activity shows a declining trend, flu season is expected to continue well into spring. Therefore, it is better to protect yourself and others who are more vulnerable to the dangers of the flu, by getting the flu vaccine shot.

While no one wants to experience the misery of the flu, for many people with chronic conditions, the flu causes serious complications, leading to hospitalization, or in some instances, death.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in recent years, about 9 out of every 10 people who were in the hospital due to the flu had at least one underlying medical condition.

The underlying health conditions that commonly put adults at higher risk of complications from the flu include heart disease, history of stroke, type 1 or type 2 diabetes, obesity, and chronic lung diseases such as asthma, cystic fibrosis, and chronic obstructive lung disease.

Influenza and Chronic Diseases: A Deadly Combination

If you have heart disease and you’re not vaccinated against the flu, you are six times more likely to have a heart attack within a week of infection. The flu vaccine can be doubly protective—from bad flu and its complications.

With the U.S. flu season typically peaking mid-to-late winter, between December and February, getting vaccinated not only protects themselves but those around them who may not be able to get vaccinated or who have a weakened immune response to infections.

Many of these same chronic conditions also put individuals at higher risk of complications from COVID-19, so it is important to also stay up to date on the COVID vaccine.

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Health professionals recommend the flu shot for anyone 6 months of age and older, and say it is safe to get a flu vaccine along with a COVID-19 booster. They also urge those 65 and older to ask about the flu vaccines recommended for their age and get the best one that’s available at that location at that time.

The impact of any illness can pose a threat to someone with diabetes, especially considering many people who live with diabetes have other complications like heart disease and kidney disease. Staying up to date on all annual vaccines and the COVID-19 vaccine is recommended for everyone eligible, especially those living with diabetes and other chronic illnesses.

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Therefore, we must slow the spread of the flu this year as much as possible to continue to decrease the number of cases and hospitalizations and to protect our most vulnerable loved ones.



Source-Eurekalert