Large-Scale Disease-Wide Association Study Identified Predisposition Links Between Influenza and Cardiovascular...

Area of Science:

• Epidemiology
• Cardiovascular Medicine
• Infectious Diseases

Background:

• Influenza poses a global health risk, with emerging evidence linking it to long-term multi-organ conditions, similar to "long COVID."
• Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are increasingly implicated in influenza's effects, but research often focuses on short-term outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the bidirectional association between influenza and a wide range of comorbid conditions over extended periods.
• To identify the most significant comorbidities associated with influenza, particularly cardiovascular diseases.

Main Methods:

• A disease-wide association study (DWAS) compared individuals with coded influenza (n=5136) to population comparators (n=314,673).
• Age- and sex-adjusted Cox models screened 106 comorbid endpoints using ICD-10/ICD-O-3 and FinnGen disease taxonomy.
• Associations were analyzed bidirectionally (pre- and post-influenza) across 1-, 5-, and 15-year windows.

Main Results:

• Influenza demonstrated broad associations across multiple organ systems, with CVDs showing the most persistent signals.
• Pre-influenza, conditions like heart failure, hypertension, and stroke were linked to higher influenza susceptibility.
• Post-influenza, elevated risks persisted for atrial fibrillation, heart failure, myocardial infarction, and stroke.

Conclusions:

• Cardiovascular diseases are identified as the most significant comorbidities associated with influenza.
• Influenza can be viewed as a "cardiovascular stress test," advocating for prioritized prevention and intensified cardiovascular risk management.
• Further research is needed to elucidate the underlying biological mechanisms.