Emerging research offers promising news regarding the broader health benefits of the shingles vaccine. Scientists have reported that receiving the vaccine to prevent shingles significantly lowers the chances of experiencing a heart attack or stroke. These findings, presented ahead of the 2025 European Society of Cardiology Congress in Madrid, highlight an important connection between preventing herpes zoster and improving cardiovascular health.
Data pooled from nine prior studies indicates that adults across all age groups who received either the two-shot Shingrix vaccine from GlaxoSmithKline or Merck’s single-dose Zostavax experienced a reduced risk. Zostavax, although discontinued due to waning protection over time, was part of this analysis. Overall, vaccination against shingles correlated with an 18% reduction in the risk of heart attack or stroke for adults aged 18 and older. For individuals aged 50 and above, this risk reduction was 16%. Specifically for the Shingrix vaccine, a 21% lower risk of either outcome was observed. Furthermore, for every thousand people, shingles vaccination was linked with 1.2 to 2.2 fewer major adverse heart events annually. [2, 3, 7]
It is worth noting that previous research has already suggested a temporary increased risk of stroke and heart attack following an actual case of shingles. [2, 5, 6] Therefore, this new evidence showing a protective effect from vaccination aligns with earlier understandings of the disease’s impact on the cardiovascular system. Another study published in the European Heart Journal earlier this year also found that people receiving the shingles vaccine had a 23% lower risk of cardiovascular events, including stroke, heart failure, and coronary heart disease, with protection lasting up to eight years. [5, 6, 8]
Understanding Shingles Vaccine Benefits and Limitations
While these findings are encouraging, Dr. Charles Williams of GSK, the study leader, emphasized some limitations in the available data. Primarily, almost all the evidence came from observational studies. Such studies can indicate associations but cannot definitively prove cause and effect. Moreover, the studies generally involved healthy patients rather than individuals already at a higher risk of cardiovascular events. Consequently, further research is certainly needed to ascertain whether this association can be directly attributed to an effect of herpes zoster vaccination. [3, 4, 7]
Moving to another significant advancement in cardiac care, a small study suggests that partial heart transplants offer a viable solution for children with life-threatening congenital heart valve defects who lack access to donor hearts.
Advancements in Partial Heart Transplants for Children
Surgeons at Duke University reported on the first 19 patients undergoing partial heart transplants using only a donor’s valves. During an average follow-up of six months, all transplanted valves remained functional. Remarkably, the valves also showed signs of growing as the children grew, presenting a major advantage over traditional prosthetic valves. The youngest patient in this study was merely two days old at the time of surgery, with 18 patients under the age of 16. [10, 11, 13]
Dr. Joseph Turek, the study leader, highlighted that partial heart transplantation is a versatile option for a range of heart conditions. This technique delivers growing, functional valves while requiring less immunosuppressant medication compared to a full heart transplant. This is a considerable benefit for these young patients and their families. To date, none of the patients have required additional procedures on their new heart valves or experienced complications from immunosuppression. [11, 13]
Often, these procedures were performed as “domino transplants.” This means children receiving complete heart transplants for non-valve conditions generously donated their usable old heart valves to the partial heart recipients. [14] Nevertheless, how patients and their new valves will fare over longer periods remains unclear. Researchers acknowledge that while partial heart transplantation holds potential for providing growing and living tissue for valve replacement, it is not a complete cure and requires further refinement. [11]
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: How does the shingles vaccine reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke?
The exact mechanism is still being investigated, but prior research indicates that shingles infection can cause inflammation and damage to blood vessels, potentially increasing the risk of cardiovascular events. By preventing shingles, the vaccine may mitigate these inflammatory effects, thereby lowering the risk of heart attack and stroke. [2, 5, 6]
Q2: What are the main benefits of partial heart transplants for children with valve disorders?
Partial heart transplants offer living, growing donor heart valves that can adapt as the child grows, significantly reducing the need for multiple future surgeries. This method also often requires less immunosuppressant medication compared to full heart transplants, improving the quality of life for young patients with congenital heart valve defects. [11, 13]
Q3: Are there any limitations to the current findings on the shingles vaccine and heart health?
Yes, the majority of the evidence comes from observational studies, which can show associations but not direct cause-and-effect. Additionally, these studies mainly involved generally healthy patients, meaning more research is needed to understand the benefits for individuals at higher cardiovascular risk and to confirm causality. [3, 4, 7]
References
- Shingles vaccine may lower the risk of heart attack and stroke – ETHealthworld
- Shingles vaccine linked to heart attack and stroke prevention – New Atlas
- Shingles Vaccine Linked to Reduced Cardiovascular Risk in Global Meta-Analysis: ESC Preview – Patient Care Online
- The hidden benefits of shingles vaccine revealed – The Independent
- Shingles vaccine lowers the risk of heart disease for up to eight years
- Live shingles vaccine linked to lower risk of heart disease – The BMJ
- Shingles jab may reduce risk of heart attack, pioneering research reveals – The Guardian
- Shingles vaccine may lower the risk of heart attack and stroke, study finds | The Independent
- Shingles vaccine may lower the risk of heart attack and stroke, study finds
- Partial Heart Transplant in Congenital Cardiac Surgery – PubMed
- Partial Heart Transplant Shows Promise in Congenital Heart Disease – MedPage Today
- Partial Heart Transplant in a Neonate With Irreparable Truncal Valve Dysfunction – PubMed
- Duke Pediatric Heart Surgeons Perform World’s First Partial Heart Transplant – Duke Health
- Partial heart transplants: What to know – Becker’s Hospital Review | Healthcare News & Analysis
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