Shingles Vaccine Reduces Cardiovascular Events in Heart Disease Patients by 46%
A new study of over 246,000 heart disease patients shows the shingles vaccine reduces major cardiovascular events by 46% and death by 61% within one year. The protective effects are comparable to quitting smoking and support existing vaccine recommendations for adults over 50. The findings will be presented at the American College of Cardiology's annual meeting.
New research suggests that the shingles vaccine is linked to a significantly lower risk of major cardiovascular events in people with existing heart disease. Adults with heart disease who received a shingles vaccine experience markedly fewer heart-related complications within a year than those who were not vaccinated, with vaccinated individuals having reduced risks across multiple outcomes including heart attack, stroke, heart failure, and death within 1 year.
The findings come from a study analyzing health records from more than 246,000 adults in the United States with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, a condition that results from plaque buildup in the arteries. Roughly half of the participants had received at least 1 dose of either the Shingrix or Zostavax shingles vaccine, while the other half had not. The two groups were matched for demographics and health conditions to ensure a fair comparison.
After examining for cardiac events occurring between one month and one year after shingles vaccination, or the same time period for unvaccinated individuals, the researchers found that vaccination was linked with a lower risk across all outcomes studied. Notably, the vaccine was associated with a 46% lower risk of major adverse cardiovascular events, a 27% lower risk of heart attack, a 27% lower risk of stroke, a 33% lower risk of heart failure, and a 61% lower risk of death from any cause.
The researchers add that these reductions are substantial and comparable to the benefits expected from quitting smoking. They add that this supports recommendations for all adults over 50 to receive the shingles vaccine. "This vaccine has been found over and over again to have cardioprotective effects for reducing heart attack, stroke and death," noted the lead researcher. "Looking at the highest risk population, those with existing cardiovascular disease, these protective effects might be even greater than among the general public."
The protective effect may be due to the vaccine preventing inflammation and dangerous blood clots that result from the shingles infection. Beyond causing a painful rash, a shingles infection may also be associated with systemic inflammation and an increased risk of blood clots. Previous research has suggested that shingles may increase the risk of experiencing future cardiovascular events, such as a heart attack or stroke. By preventing shingles, the vaccine likely reduces these potential cardiovascular risks.
Previous studies have suggested similar benefits. For example, a 2025 study indicated that the shingles vaccine may help lower the risk for cardiovascular events in the general population by 23%. Additionally, the protective effects may last up to 8 years. More study is needed to verify the long-term benefits of shingles vaccination.
The results of this study have yet to be published in a peer-reviewed scientific journal and will be presented at the American College of Cardiology's Annual Scientific Session on March 30. While the results are promising, it is important to consider the limitations of the study. For example, as it uses observational data, it cannot directly prove cause and effect for the vaccine providing these benefits. Additionally, it only tracked outcomes for up to 1 year after vaccination, so longer studies will be necessary.