Having the annual flu vaccine could help to reduce the risk of stroke, according to a new Spanish study.
Researchers at the University of Alcalá, Madrid, looked at a health care database in Spain and identified people who were at least 40 years old and had a first stroke over a 14 year period.
There were 14,322 people who had a stroke and each of these was compared to five people of the same age and sex, a total of 71,610 people, who did not have a stroke.
The team went on to examine if participants had received the influenza vaccine at least 14 days before the stroke or before that same date for those who did not have a stroke.
They found 41.4% of those who had a stroke had received the flu shot, compared to 40.5% of those who did not have a stroke.
But those who received the vaccine were more likely to be older and to have other conditions such as high blood pressure and high cholesterol, which would make them more likely to have a stroke.
Once these factors had been adjusted for, researchers found those who received the flu vaccine were 12% less likely to have a stroke than those who did not.
The researchers also looked at whether or not the pneumonia vaccine had any effect on the risk of stroke and found no protective effect.
Study author Dr Francisco J. de Abajo, professor of pharmacology at the University of Alcalá, said: “These results are yet another reason for people to get their yearly flu shot, especially if they are at an increased risk of stroke.
“To be able to reduce your risk of stroke by taking such a simple action is very compelling.”
The study was supported by the Biomedical Research Foundation of the Prince of Asturias University Hospital in Madrid and the Institute of Health Carlos III in Madrid.
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