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.
Prince Harry's Legal Defeat Sparks Expert Alarm Over Royal Collapse
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.
Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
India Today
2 days ago
- India Today
Covid's hidden damage: How the virus is putting women's hearts at risk
There has been a sudden rise in heart diseases, especially among Indian women. Viral videos of women collapsing, dropping dead, young girls collapsing at school have made us wonder, what is going wrong - why are women suddenly getting heart disease?As suspected, Covid-19 is to be blamed.A study, published in the European Heart Journal, indicates that Covid did not just attack lungs, it silently attacked your arteries as well, causing dangerous inflammation and stiffness that can lead to heart attacks, strokes, and lifelong This study was done across 16 countries, involving 2,400 participants, half of which were terrifying? This damage often shows no obvious symptoms at first — just subtle signs like unusual fatigue, chest tightness, or shortness of breath that many dismiss as 'just stress' or 'getting older.'But behind the scenes, women's hearts are being compromised in ways doctors are only beginning to HAS LEFT BEHIND A CARDIOVASCULAR LEGACY: EXPERTSAccording to Dr. Mukesh Goel, senior consultant, cardiothoracic and cardiovascular surgery, heart and lung transplant surgery, Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals, Covid-19 has left behind a cardiovascular legacy that extends well beyond the acute infection."This new study, which highlights that covid-19 may accelerate vascular ageing by up to five years, particularly in women, is deeply significant. Blood vessels are the lifelines of the heart and the body, and their stiffness or premature ageing is closely linked to risks such as hypertension, heart attack, and stroke," Dr. Goel tells India is striking is that women, who were earlier thought to have some natural protection against vascular ageing due to hormones like estrogen, appear to be more vulnerable in the post-covid phase, especially if they suffer from long covid symptoms like breathlessness and Brajesh Kumar Mishra, HOD & consultant, cardiology, Manipal Hospita, adds that one possible reason for this difference between men and women lies in the immune system. Women generally have a faster and stronger immune response, which helps protect them from infections."However, this heightened response can also cause greater damage to blood vessels after the initial infection," Dr. Mishra IS VASCULAR AGEING?Vascular ageing essentially means that the elastic nature of the arteries is reduced, making the heart work harder to pump blood."In a person who has already had Covid-19, this can amplify the risk of heart disease, even in those who were otherwise healthy before infection. It underscores the importance of regular cardiovascular screening for post-covid patients — checking blood pressure, cholesterol levels, blood sugar, and, where needed, vascular health assessments," Dr. Goel agree that Covid-19 was not just a respiratory infection, it affected the heart DISMISS SYMPTOMSadvertisementDismissing symptoms can have long-term consequences for the heart and vascular especially women, must take post-covid symptoms seriously rather than dismiss them as fatigue or lifestyle interventions like a balanced diet, exercise, and medical follow-up can go a long way in mitigating these risks."As physicians, our role is to raise awareness that the pandemic's impact on the heart and blood vessels may unfold silently over years, and vigilance today could prevent major cardiovascular events tomorrow," Dr Goel screening and immediate medical intervention could save the lives of covid-19 patients, particularly women.- EndsTune InMust Watch
Time of India
3 days ago
- Time of India
Study finds COVID-19 may have aged blood vessels by 5 years, especially among women
New Delhi: A COVID-19 infection could age one's blood vessels by about five years, especially among women, according to a new study. The effect was found to be stronger among women who experienced persistent symptoms after recovering from COVID-19 -- collectively termed 'long Covid' -- such as shortness of breath and fatigue. "Since the pandemic, we have learned that many people who have had (COVID-19) are left with symptoms that can last for months or even years. However, we are still learning what's happening in the body to create these symptoms," lead researcher Rosa Maria Bruno from Universite Paris Cite, France, said. The study, published in the European Heart Journal, looked at around 2,400 people -- about half were women -- from across 16 countries, including Australia, Brazil and those in Europe. While blood vessels are known to become stiffer with age, a COVID-19 infection can accelerate the process and can heighten the risk of developing cardiovascular disease, including stroke and heart attack, the researchers said. The participants' vascular (blood vessel) age was measured using a device that looks at how quickly a wave of blood pressure travels between the carotid artery (in the neck) and femoral arteries (in the legs) -- called 'carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity'. A higher value indicates more stiffness and ageing of blood vessels. Measurements were taken six months after a COVID-19 infection and again after 12 months. An increase in pulse wave velocity of around 0.5 metres per second is clinically relevant and roughly amounts to ageing by five years, with a three per cent increased risk of cardiovascular disease, in a 60-year-old woman, the researchers said. The study found that, on average, pulse wave velocity among women who had a mild infection was increased by 0.55 metres per second, by 0.60 metres per second in those hospitalised and by over one metre per second for women treated in intensive care. "(Pulse wave velocity) differences were significant in women, but not in men. Among COVID-19 positive women, persistent symptoms were associated with higher (pulse wave velocity)," the authors wrote. "A stable or improved (pulse wave velocity) after 12 months was found in COVID-positive groups, whereas a progression was observed in the COVID-negative group," they wrote. Explaining how COVID-19 impacts blood vessels, Bruno said that the disease-causing virus "acts on specific receptors in the body, called the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 receptors, that are present on the lining of the blood vessels." "The virus uses these receptors to enter and infect cells. This may result in vascular dysfunction and accelerated vascular ageing. Our body's inflammation and immune responses, which defend against infections, may also be involved," the lead researcher said. Further, compared to men, women are known to produce a more rapid and robust immune response which can protect from infection but can also inflict damage on blood vessels after initial infection, Bruno said. In a related editorial, published in the European Heart Journal, researchers from Harvard Medical School in the US wrote, "Although the acute threat of the COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) pandemic has waned, a new challenge emerged in its aftermath: post-acute COVID-19 syndrome." The study highlights that "COVID-19's vascular legacy is real, measurable, and with a plausible likelihood of sex-specific findings," they wrote. "COVID-19 has aged our arteries, especially for female adults. The question is whether we can find modifiable targets to prevent this in future surges of infection, and mitigate adverse outcomes in those afflicted with COVID-19-induced vascular ageing," the authors said.>
New Indian Express
3 days ago
- New Indian Express
Study finds COVID-19 may have aged blood vessels by 5 years, especially among women
NEW DELHI: A COVID-19 infection could age one's blood vessels by about five years, especially among women, according to a new study. The effect was found to be stronger among women who experienced persistent symptoms after recovering from COVID-19 -- collectively termed 'long Covid' -- such as shortness of breath and fatigue. "Since the pandemic, we have learned that many people who have had (COVID-19) are left with symptoms that can last for months or even years. However, we are still learning what's happening in the body to create these symptoms," lead researcher Rosa Maria Bruno from Université Paris Cité, France, said. The study, published in the European Heart Journal, looked at around 2,400 people -- about half were women -- from across 16 countries, including Australia, Brazil and those in Europe. While blood vessels are known to become stiffer with age, a COVID-19 infection can accelerate the process and can heighten the risk of developing cardiovascular disease, including stroke and heart attack, the researchers said. The participants' vascular (blood vessel) age was measured using a device that looks at how quickly a wave of blood pressure travels between the carotid artery (in the neck) and femoral arteries (in the legs) -- called 'carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity'. A higher value indicates more stiffness and ageing of blood vessels. Measurements were taken six months after a COVID-19 infection and again after 12 months. An increase in pulse wave velocity of around 0.5 metres per second is clinically relevant and roughly amounts to ageing by five years, with a three per cent increased risk of cardiovascular disease, in a 60-year-old woman, the researchers said. The study found that, on average, pulse wave velocity among women who had a mild infection was increased by 0.55 metres per second, by 0.60 metres per second in those hospitalised and by over one metre per second for women treated in intensive care.
