Shingles Vaccine May Safeguard Heart Health for Up to 8 Years, Study Finds
New Delhi: According to a study of over one million people, those who received the shingles (zoster) vaccine had a 23% lower risk of cardiovascular problems, including stroke, heart failure, and coronary heart disease.
The live zoster vaccine is made using a weakened version of the varicella-zoster virus, which is the virus responsible for causing shingles.
Shingles is a viral infection known for causing a painful skin rash and has also been associated with an increased risk of heart-related issues.
Shingles can result in serious complications, particularly in older adults and individuals with weakened immune systems. The study found that the vaccine’s protective effect can last up to eight years and is especially strong in men, people under 60, and those with unhealthy habits like smoking, alcohol consumption, and physical inactivity.
"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," said Professor Dong Keon Yon from the Kyung Hee University College of Medicine in Seoul, South Korea.
The study involved 1,271,922 individuals aged 50 and above living in South Korea. Results showed that those who received the shingles vaccine had a 23% lower overall risk of cardiovascular events. Specifically, they had a 26% lower risk of major cardiovascular events—such as stroke, heart attack, or death from heart disease a 26% reduced risk of heart failure, and a 22% lower risk of coronary heart disease. According to Yon, shingles infection can harm blood vessels, triggering inflammation and blood clots that may contribute to heart disease, but vaccination appears to help reduce 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,” the researcher said.
Previous studies indicate that without vaccination, approximately 30% of people are likely to develop shingles at some point in their lives.