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In the new study, researchers at the University of Oxford and NIHR BRC: Oxford Health used the USA TriNetX electronic health records network. In the USA, there was a switchover between Zostavax and Shingrix in October 2017. This allowed the researchers to compare the risk of cardiovascular events over the following seven years in adults aged 60 and over who were vaccinated with Shingrix versus otherwise similar people who had received Zostavax. More than 36,000 people, matched for their characteristics, were in each group.
Shingrix was associated with a 9% lower overall burden of cardiovascular disease than Zostavax, including a 10% reduction for ischaemic heart disease and a 12% reduction for heart failure. Men who received Shingrix also had a 12% lower risk of stroke, and there was a 7% reduction in atrial fibrillation (irregular heart rhythm). The beneficial effects were present in both sexes and were strongest in the years soon after vaccination.
Various additional analyses showed that these findings are robust but the researchers say further research, including clinical trials, is needed before any suggestion is made that the shingles vaccine should be used to help prevent or delay cardiovascular disease. The same Oxford team previously showed that Shingrix is also associated with a lower risk of dementia.
Read the full story on the Department of Psychiatry website.