Adults ages 50 and older can be vaccinated against shingles. The vaccine provides more than
Past studies show that in addition to providing protection against shingles, the vaccine may also provide other health benefits, including a potentially lower risk for
“Shingles has traditionally been regarded as an infectious disease,” Sooji Lee, MD, researcher in the Center for Digital Health in the Medical Science Research Institute at Kyung Hee University Medical Center in South Korea, told Medical News Today.
“However, previous studies suggested an association between shingles and chronic conditions such as cardiovascular disease. This points to a potential link between infections and chronic diseases. This is why further investigation into the broader impact of shingles vaccination is essential,” she explained.
Lee is the first author of a new study that has found people who receive the shingles vaccine have a 23% lower risk of cardiovascular events, such as heart failure, stroke, and coronary heart disease, with this protective benefit lasting for up to eight years post-vaccination.
The findings were recently published in the European Heart Journal.
For this study, researchers analyzed medical data from more than 1.2 million adults ages 50 or over living in South Korea from 2012 onward. Scientists determined whether or not participants received a live zoster vaccine for shingles, which contains a weakened form of the varicella-zoster virus.
At the study’s conclusion, researchers found that participants who received the shingles vaccine had a 23% lower chance of experiencing any cardiovascular events, as well as a 26% lower risk for any major cardiovascular event, such as stroke, heart attack, or death from heart disease.
Scientists also found that the shingles vaccine lowered a person’s risk for heart failure by 26% and coronary heart disease by 22%.
“The finding that vaccination was associated with a 23% reduction in cardiovascular risk even in a previously healthy population highlights the potential of shingles vaccination as a preventive measure against heart disease,” Lee said.
“Shingles can trigger inflammation in blood vessels, potentially leading to cardiovascular events. By preventing the shingles infection, the vaccine likely reduces this inflammatory response, thereby lowering the risk of heart disease.”
— Sooji Lee, MD
Additionally, Lee and her team found that the cardiovascular protective effects of the shingles vaccine last for as long as eight years. And the strongest protection occurred in the first two to three years after receiving the vaccine.
“This suggests that the shingles vaccine provides a long-term protective effect on heart health, with the most significant benefits observed in the first two to three years post-vaccination,” Lee explained. “Given that recombinant shingles vaccines are now more widely used and have shown higher effectiveness, our next step is to study their potential impact on cardiovascular outcomes.”
“This is one of the largest and most comprehensive studies following a healthy general population over a period of up to 12 years, Dong Keon Yon, MD, PhD, professor in the Department of Pediatrics and Digital Health at Kyung Hee University College of Medicine in South Korea, and lead author of the study says in a press release.
“For the first time, this has allowed us to examine the association between shingles vaccination and 18 different types of cardiovascular disease. We were able to account for various other health conditions, lifestyle factors, and socioeconomic status, making our findings more robust.”
— Dong Keon Yon, MD, PhD
“However, as this study is based on an Asian cohort, the results may not apply to all populations,” Yon continues. “While we conducted rigorous analysis, this study does not establish a direct causal relationship, so potential bias from other underlying factors should be considered.”
MNT had the opportunity to speak with Cheng-Han Chen, MD, a board certified interventional cardiologist and medical director of the Structural Heart Program at MemorialCare Saddleback Medical Center in Laguna Hills, CA, about this study.
“These results highlight the significant morbidity and mortality that is associated with shingles and should further drive our efforts to vaccinate as many eligible patients as possible,” Chen commented.
“Varicella-zoster, the virus that causes shingles, has been shown to increase inflammation, cause blood vessel damage, and increase clotting, all of which can lead to serious cardiovascular conditions such as heart attack, stroke, and heart failure. The shingles vaccine, by preventing varicella-zoster infection, would thus decrease cardiovascular risk by preventing the adverse reactions associated with the virus.”
— Cheng-Han Chen, MD
“The varicella-zoster virus can cause complications with many different organ systems, including the heart and nervous system,” Chen continued.
“Research on the shingles vaccine can help us better understand and reduce the health effects of varicella-zoster infection. This study was performed, specifically in an Asian population. Further research will be needed to confirm whether the findings are applicable to a wider demographic,” he added.
MNT also spoke with Grant Simons, MD, chief of Heart Rhythm Services at Hackensack University Medical Center in New Jersey, about this research, who commented that he found the results to be somewhat surprising, though not entirely unexpected.
“While a link between shingles and cardiovascular events has been established, the extent of the risk reduction associated with the shingles vaccine shown in this study is notable,” Simons explained.
“The magnitude of the risk reduction (22-26%) across various cardiovascular events is higher than some might have anticipated, which is surprising. Previous studies have suggested potential benefit, but this very large study provides stronger evidence and quantifies the potential impact more definitively. The duration of protection (up to eight years) is also a positive surprise.”
— Grant Simons, MD
“The study provides compelling evidence for the cardiovascular benefits of the shingles vaccine, with a stronger and longer-lasting protective effect than previously anticipated,” Simons continued. “Although this is an observational study, its large size is somewhat compelling. While the biological mechanisms are still being investigated, the findings are significant for public health recommendations regarding vaccination in older adults.”
“However, it is important to note that more research is needed to fully elucidate the specific pathways involved,” Simons added. “This study provides strong observational evidence for the association, but further investigation is required to confirm and detail the causal mechanisms.”
