The role of pneumococcal vaccination in reducing the cardiovascular risk of cardiac patients: opinion of experts of the Prevention Committee of the Polish Cardiac Society supported by the Polish Vaccinology Society.

Abstract

Respiratory diseases have been the fourth most common cause of death in Poland in recent years. Respiratory infection, especially pneumonia, can lead to exacerbation of chronic cardiovascular disease. Streptococcus pneumoniae is the most common bacterial pathogen causing community-acquired pneumonia. Pneumococci are also the most common pathogen complicating the course of influenza virus infection. Pneumonia, especially invasive pneumococcal disease, is associated with the risk of death in the course of respiratory failure or sepsis and also with the worsening of the prognosis of the existing cardiovascular disease. Despite those facts recommendations for pneumococcal vaccination are still not well established in cardiovascular guidelines. The aim of this document is to summarize current knowledge on the importance of preventing invasive pneumococcal disease in the context of cardiac patients.