Article Abstract:
Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicate that more elderly Americans are being vaccinated against influenza and infection with Streptococcus pneumoniae, but many are still unvaccinated. In a 1993 survey of 19,761 adults 65 years and older, only half reported receiving an influenza vaccine in the previous year and only 28.7% had received a pneumococcal vaccine. Non-Hispanic whites were more likely to have been vaccinated than other ethnic groups. Pneumonia and influenza are leading causes of death in the elderly.
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Article Abstract:
Many diabetics have not been vaccinated against influenza or pneumococcal pneumonia. According to data from the 1997 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) that included 7,011 diabetics, only half had received the influenza vaccine and one-third had received the pneumococcal vaccine. Non-Hispanic whites were more likely to have been vaccinated than blacks and Hispanics. Older diabetics were also more likely to be vaccinated than younger diabetics.
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Article Abstract:
Diabetics have twice the risk of heart disease and this risk is even higher if they have high blood pressure. Drugs that lower blood pressure can reduce this risk, but some drugs have serious side effects. ACE inhibitors appear to be more effective for diabetics than calcium channel blockers, beta blockers or diuretics. Diabetics may also benefit from drugs to lower cholesterol.
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