High-Dose Influenza Vaccine to Reduce Clinical Outcomes in High Risk Cardiovascular Patients: Rationale and Design of the INVESTED Trial

摘要

BackgroundInfluenza leads to significant cardiopulmonary morbidity and mortality, particularly in patients with cardiovascular disease, that may be prevented with a standard influenza vaccine. However, patients with cardiovascular conditions have a reduced immune response to influenza vaccine, potentially resulting in reduced effectiveness for preventing clinical events. High-dose vaccine augments immune response in cardiac patients, suggesting that a high-dose influenza vaccination strategy may further reduce morbidity and mortality. Alternatively, broader coverage with an influenza vaccine containing an increased number of viral strains is an alternative strategy without direct evaluation.