Shingles Vaccine Cuts Risk of Major Cardiac Events by 46%, Landmark Study Finds

People with heart disease who received a shingles vaccine had nearly half the rate of serious cardiac events a year later compared with those who did not get the vaccine, according to a landmark study presented at the American College of Cardiology's Annual Scientific Session (ACC.26).

The study analyzed over 246,822 U.S. adults with atherosclerotic heart disease, a condition caused by plaque buildup in arteries. Vaccinated individuals were 46% less likely to suffer any major adverse cardiac event, 66% less likely to die from any cause, 32% less likely to suffer a heart attack, 25% less likely to have a stroke, and 25% less likely to develop heart failure.

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These levels of risk reduction are substantial — comparable to what would be expected from quitting smoking. The findings suggest that the shingles vaccine may offer a dual benefit: protecting against the painful viral infection while simultaneously guarding the cardiovascular system.

Previous research has shown that shingles infection can cause blood clots to form around the brain and heart, raising the risk of heart attacks, strokes, and venous thromboembolism. By preventing the infection, the shingles vaccine is thought to also prevent the formation of these dangerous clots.

The researchers noted that inflammation plays a key role in both shingles and cardiovascular disease. The varicella-zoster virus, which causes shingles, can trigger systemic inflammation that destabilizes arterial plaques and promotes clot formation. Vaccination may reduce this inflammatory burden.

While the study focused on outcomes during the first year after vaccination, the implications are significant for public health policy. With heart disease remaining the leading cause of death globally, a widely available vaccine that offers cardiovascular protection could have an enormous impact.