Shingles vaccine linked to lower risk of heart attack and stroke

A global review presented at the European Society of Cardiology congress in Madrid found that adults who received a vaccine against shingles were about a fifth less likely to suffer a heart attack or stroke, a finding that comes as England expands NHS eligibility for the jab to more immunocompromised adults. Researchers pooled available trial and observational data and reported an 18 percent lower risk of cardiovascular events in vaccinated adults aged 18 and older and a 16 percent reduction among those aged 50 and over.

The analysis, led by Dr Charles Williams of GSK and presented at the congress, combined data identified in a systematic literature review and a meta-analysis of randomized and observational studies. The investigators reported that either the recombinant herpes zoster vaccine or the live attenuated vaccine was associated with the reduced cardiovascular risk. In studies that reported absolute rates, the review found between 1.2 and 2.2 fewer events per 1,000 person years among vaccinated people, the authors said.

Accounts of how many studies were examined vary. The researchers said their review examined a broader set of studies but pooled results from nine that...