People who get the shingles vaccine are 26% less likely to suffer a heart attack, heart failure or stroke, a study suggests.
Experts from South Korea discovered this effect after analyzing data from over a million patients and found that the protection can last up to eight years.
It was also noted that the protective effect was stronger in men, people who were vaccinated under the age of 60, and those with unhealthy lifestyles, who are more at risk of serious cardiovascular diseases.
Shingles is a painful infection of the nerves and skin, caused by the same virus that causes chickenpox (varicella). It occurs when the virus left over from a previous infection reactivates in the body, often years later.
Most people are not at serious risk, but for the elderly and people with weakened immune systems (such as those with cancer), this infection can be deadly. For this reason, the shingles vaccine is offered to certain groups in the UK to reduce the risk of complications.
But new research suggests there are additional health benefits.
In the study, experts from Kyung Hee University College of Medicine analyzed health data from nearly 1.3 million people in South Korea, with an average age of 61. Half of them had received the vaccine, while the rest had not.
They compared vaccination history with data on cardiovascular problems up to 12 years later, taking into account factors such as age, economic status and lifestyle habits (such as alcohol and tobacco consumption).
The authors found that vaccinated people were 23% less likely to experience cardiovascular problems overall.
More specifically, the vaccine was linked to a 26% lower risk of serious events such as stroke, heart attack and heart failure.
Also, vaccinated people had a 22% lower risk of coronary heart disease – a condition where the arteries narrow due to the accumulation of fatty materials (plaques).
The study's lead author, Professor Dong Keon Yon, said the vaccine could help protect the body from the damage caused by herpes zoster infection.
"A shingles infection can damage blood vessels, causing inflammation and clot formation that can lead to heart disease," he said.
“By preventing herpes zoster, the vaccine can reduce these risks.”
He added that the protection was stronger in younger people, perhaps due to stronger immunity. The effect was also more pronounced in men, which could mean the vaccine works better in men than in women.
The findings were published in the European Heart Journal. According to the study, the vaccine had the strongest effect in the first 2–3 years, but the positive impact lasted for up to eight years.
Professor Yon highlighted the strength of the study thanks to the large number of participants and the consideration of factors such as wealth and health history that could influence the results.
However, he also acknowledged limitations.
"Since this study is based on an Asian population, the results may not apply to all populations," he said.
Another limitation is that the study only looked at a version of the vaccine that uses a live, weakened virus. This version is being replaced in many countries by a new vaccine that is given in two doses over 12 months and contains only a portion of the virus.
In England, the old vaccine was withdrawn from use in September 2023 and replaced with the new version.
Professor Yon said his team plans another study to find out whether the new vaccine has the same protective effect.
Currently, in the UK, the shingles vaccine is offered to all adults aged 65 to 79. It is also offered to people over 50 with severely weakened immune systems.
Official data up to January this year shows that only one in six eligible 65-year-olds in England have received the first dose of the new vaccine.
Although it is usually a mild illness, herpes zoster can cause serious complications such as pneumonia, inflammation of the brain or the membrane that surrounds it.
These serious complications can make the disease deadly, with around one in every 1,000 patients over the age of 70 dying after infection.. /GazetaExpress/
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