Occurrence of a respiratory infection found to increase the risk of heart attack, study reveals
-Researchers from the University of Sydney are amongst the first ones to report an association between respiratory infections such as pneumonia, influenza and bronchitis and increased risk of heart attack.
-The study included 578 consecutive patients with a heart attack due to a coronary artery blockage. Of the patients under evaluation, 17% of patients reported symptoms of respiratory infection within 7 days of the heart attack, and 21% within 31 days.
-The study suggests that bronchitis or pneumonia could significantly increase the risk for heart attack. The risk of having a heart attack is 17 times higher in the seven days following a respiratory infection.
-Findings were published in the Internal Medicine Journal
Source: Internal Medicine Journal