Shingles vaccine can lower the risk of heart disease, say experts

An estimated three to five people out of every 1,000 get shingles each year. Getting a vaccine can reduce the risk. A new study has now revealed that the vaccine can not only prevent you from getting shingles, but also reduce the risk of heart disease.
A study by researchers from the Kyung Hee University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Kore,a found that people who took a vaccine for shingles have a 23% lower risk of cardiovascular events, including stroke, heart failure, and coronary heart disease. The study of more than a million people is published in the European Heart Journal.
The study led by Professor Dong Keon Yon found that the protective effect of the vaccine lasts for up to eight years. It is particularly pronounced for men and in those under the age of 60 and with unhealthy lifestyles, such as smoking, drinking alcohol, and being inactive.

“Shingles causes a painful rash and can lead to serious complications, especially in older adults and those with weak immune systems. Previous research shows that, without vaccination, about 30% of people may develop shingles in their lifetime. In addition to the rash, shingles has been linked to a higher risk of heart problems, so we wanted to find out if getting vaccinated could lower this risk,” Prof Yon said in a statement.

The study included 1,271,922 people aged 50 or older. Researchers compiled data from 2012 onward to determine who had received the shingles vaccine and matched it with cardiovascular health records and demographic factors, including age, sex, wealth, and lifestyle habits such as smoking, alcohol use, and physical activity. The vaccine used was a live zoster vaccine, which contains a weakened form of the varicella zoster virus, that causes shingles. In many countries, it is now replaced by a non-live, recombinant vaccine.

The study found that in people who got the vaccine, there was a 23% lower risk of cardiovascular events, with a 26% lower risk of major cardiovascular events (a stroke, heart attack or death from heart disease), a 26% lower risk of heart failure and a 22% lower risk of coronary heart disease.
They found that the protective effect was strongest in the two to three years after the shingles vaccine was given, but researchers found that the protection lasted for up to eight years.

“Our study suggests that the shingles vaccine may help lower the risk of heart disease, even in people without known risk factors. This means that vaccination could offer health benefits beyond preventing shingles. There are several reasons why the shingles vaccine may help reduce heart disease. A shingles infection can cause blood vessel damage, inflammation and clot formation that can lead to heart disease. By preventing shingles, vaccination may lower these risks.Our study found stronger benefits in younger people, probably due to a better immune response, and in men, possibly due to differences in vaccine effectiveness,” Professor Yon said.

He also added that this is one of the largest and most comprehensive studies following a healthy general population over up to 12 years. This is also the first time, the researchers have looked at 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.However, as this study is based on an Asian cohort, the results may not apply to all populations. Since the live zoster vaccine is not suitable for everyone, more research on the recombinant vaccine is needed. While we conducted rigorous analysis, this study does not establish a direct causal relationship, so potential bias from other underlying factors should be considered,” he added.