Shingles Vaccine Could Protect Cardiovascular Health

Shingles vaccination has proved to be effective for the prevention of herpes zoster and related complications. However, researchers said that the vaccine could also protect cardiovascular health—emphasizing the importance of receiving a shingles vaccine.¹

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Shingles occurs when the varicella-zoster virus (VZV), which causes chickenpox, reactivates and causes a painful rash illness. According to the CDC, an estimated 1 million individuals experience shingles each year in the US. In most cases, individuals only develop shingles once in their lifetime; however, the illness can reoccur. The risk of developing shingles increases with age, medical conditions that impact the immune system, along with medications that do not allow the immune system to work properly.²

The virus commonly presents as a rash around the side of the body, which could lead to serious complications, including postherpetic neuralgia—which is long-term nerve pain. The CDC provided that individuals that never had the chickenpox or did not receive the chickenpox vaccine can get infected with VZV if in contact with an individual that has shingles. The virus can spread through direct contact with the fluid from the shingles rash blister, or by breathing in virus particles that come from the blisters.²

The CDC recommends all individuals 50 years and older to receive 2 doses of the recombinant zoster vaccine (RZV, Shingrix) to protect against shingles, and also recommends individuals 19 years and older to get vaccinated if they have a weakened immune system.¹ Clinical trials conducted on the safety and efficacy of shingles provided that the vaccine was 97% effective in preventing shingles in adults 50 to 69 years and 91% effective in individuals 70 years and older, which could also prevent further complications.³

According to the Journal of the American Heart Association, a 2022 study found that shingles was associated with higher long-term risk of major cardiovascular events. The study assessed the link of shingles with the risk of stroke or heart disease among 3 large US cohorts—the NHS (Nurses' Health Study), NHS II (Nurses' Health Study II), and HPFS (Health Professionals Follow‐Up Study). The study provided data from a total of 205,030 individuals.⁴

The results displayed that, among all 3 cohorts, individuals with shingles had a 30% increased risk of developing future cardiovascular events. The study authors noted that individuals with shingles also had a 38% higher chance of experiencing a stroke compared to individuals without shingles. Additionally, the risk of having a heart attack or needing a heart procedure was 25% higher in the shingles group.^1,4

"There is a growing body of evidence that links the varicella zoster virus to vascular disease, the only human virus demonstrated to replicate in arteries and lead to vasculopathy," Sharon G. Curhan, MD, ScM, said in the press release.^1,4

The findings suggest that shingles vaccination could reduce the risk of cardiovascular complications that could develop among individuals with the virus.¹ Pharmacists can continue to spread awareness of the importance of receiving a shingles vaccine, especially among those at greater risk.

REFERENCES

1. Protecting yourself from the painful shingles virus may also protect cardiovascular health. News release. American Heart Association. August 12, 2024. Accessed November 15, 2024. https://www.heart.org/en/news/2024/08/12/protecting-yourself-from-the-painful-shingles-virus-may-also-protect-cardiovascular-health

2. About Shingles (Herpes Zoster). CDC. May 10, 2024. Accessed November 15, 2024. https://www.cdc.gov/shingles/about/index.html

3. Shingles Vaccination. CDC. July 19, 2024. Accessed November 15, 2024. https://www.cdc.gov/shingles/vaccines/index.html

4. Curhan SG, Kawai K, Yawn B, Rexrode KM, Rimm EB, Curhan GC. Herpes Zoster and Long-Term Risk of Cardiovascular Disease. J Am Heart Assoc. 2022;11(23):e027451. doi:10.1161/JAHA.122.027451