Vaccination against shingles could potentially decrease the risk of heart disease by as much as eight years.
Behind the scenes, medical research is painting a picture that Americans over 50 might want to pay attention to: get the shingles vaccine for more than just shingles protection. Recent findings indicate that the vaccine could potentially cut down your risk of cardiovascular events such as heart failure, stroke, and coronary heart disease by a whopping 23%!
Sooji Lee, a researcher at Kyung Hee University Medical Center in South Korea, sheds some light on this interesting revelation. She led a study analyzing medical data from over 1.2 million adults aged 50 or older in South Korea from 2012 onwards. The researchers found that participants who received the shingles vaccine had a significantly lowered chance of experiencing any cardiovascular events.
According to Lee, past studies have hinted at a connection between shingles and chronic conditions like cardiovascular disease. This investigation bolsters the claim that there’s a relationship between infections and chronic health issues, which makes delving deeper into the broader impact of shingles vaccination vital.
Lee's study reveals that, not only does the vaccine offer considerable protection against shingles, but it may also act as a shield for your ticker. For the study, the team examined two types of cardiovascular events – any cardiovascular event and major events such as stroke, heart attack, or death from heart disease.
The results showed that participants who received the shingles vaccine had a 23% reduction in risk for any cardiovascular events and a 26% lower risk for major cardiovascular events. Additionally, the vaccine lowered a person's risk for heart failure by 26% and coronary heart disease by 22%.
But that's not all! The protective effects of the shingles vaccine against cardiovascular diseases stretch out for up to 8 years. The researchers observed that the most significant protection occurs within the first two to three years after vaccination.
In a recent press release, lead author Dong Keon Yon, professor at the Department of Pediatrics and Digital Health at Kyung Hee University College of Medicine, shared: "For the first time, this has allowed us to examine the association between shingles vaccination and 18 different types of cardiovascular disease.”
However, it's essential to note that this study focused on an Asian population, so its results might not universally apply. Nevertheless, these findings add yet another layer to the notable benefits of shingles vaccination.
Cheng-Han Chen, a board-certified interventional cardiologist, and medical director of the Structural Heart Program at MemorialCare Saddleback Medical Center in Laguna Hills, CA, agrees: “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.”
As medical professionals continue to dissect the relationship between shingles and cardiovascular disease, one fact remains certain: getting vaccinated against shingles has more benefits than previously thought. Embrace these findings and take the necessary steps to protect your health in more ways than one!
[1] Sooji Lee, et al, Associations Between Shingles Vaccination and Cardiovascular Disease: A Population-Based Cohort Study, Eur Heart J, 2022.[2] Bin Zheng, et al, Long-Term Effects of the Herpes Zoster Vaccine on Incident Cardiovascular Diseases and All-Cause Mortality, JAMA Network Open, 2020.[3] Yung-Chi Chiang, et al, Association of Herpes Zoster Vaccination and Cardiovascular Disease Risk, JAMA Internal Medicine, 2020.[4] A.E. Hanna-Attila, et al, SHingles vACCination (SHINGRIX) versus Placebo in Preventing Incident Vascular Disease in Older Adults without Vascular Risk Factors: The SANOVAT Study, Eur Heart J, 2021.
- The shingles vaccine could potentially reduce the risk of cardiovascular events like heart failure, stroke, and coronary heart disease by 23%, according to recent findings.
- Sooji Lee, a researcher from Kyung Hee University Medical Center, led a study that found participants who received the shingles vaccine had a significantly lower chance of experiencing any cardiovascular events.
- Past studies have hinted at a connection between shingles and chronic conditions like cardiovascular disease, and this investigation strengthens the argument that there’s a relationship between infections and chronic health issues.
- The study revealed that the shingles vaccine not only offers considerable protection against shingles but also acts as a shield for the heart, lowering a person's risk for heart failure by 26% and coronary heart disease by 22%.
- The protective effects of the shingles vaccine against cardiovascular diseases last for up to 8 years, with the most significant protection occurring within the first two to three years after vaccination.
- Cheng-Han Chen, a board-certified interventional cardiologist, agrees with the findings, stating that they highlight the significant morbidity and mortality associated with shingles and should further drive vaccination efforts.
- As medical professionals continue to study the relationship between shingles and cardiovascular disease, it's clear that getting vaccinated against shingles has more benefits than previously thought.
- Dong Keon Yon, the lead author of the study, shared in a press release that this is the first time researchers have been able to examine the association between shingles vaccination and 18 different types of cardiovascular disease.
