The shingles vaccine isn’t just good for preventing the painful disease − it may also reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease, according to new research.
In a study published Aug. 26 in Nature, researchers found the latest shingles vaccine was associated with a 9% decrease in cardiovascular burden over 7 years, compared to an older version. That included decreased risk of heart disease, heart failure and atrial fibrillation, or irregular heart rhythm. In males specifically, it was also associated with a decreased risk of stroke. The study used data from more than 70,000 adults ages 60 and over in the United States.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that about 1 in every 3 people in the United States will develop shingles in their lifetime. Shingles, which can cause painful rashes, fever, chills, headaches and fatigue, can be prevented by getting the two-dose vaccine, which is about 90% effective in the elderly. But the CDC recommends getting the vaccine when you turn 50.
“Given the global burden of cardiovascular disease, these findings, if confirmed in clinical trials and mechanistic studies, would have important implications for public health,” the Oxford- and Birmingham-based authors wrote.
The authors note the prevention of shingles might partly explain the association, given the link between shingles and cardiovascular risk. But they suspect the vaccine may induce immune and cell changes that could be “cardioprotective.” More experiments are needed to determine the underlying biological mechanisms of these observations, they added.
The authors also noted some study limitations – including potential unvalidated diagnoses and limited socioeconomic and lifestyle data – as well as the associations not proving causation.
This isn’t the first time the shingles shot has been associated with other positive health benefits. Last year, a study found the shingles vaccine may lower the likelihood of developing dementia as well as slow its progression in people who have already been diagnosed with the disease.
Researchers are finding more evidence that certain herpes viruses, such as shingles, which can infect the nervous system, might play a role in causing dementia.
Contributing: Janet Loehrke, USA TODAY