The World Health Organization (WHO) said in in 2021 that cardiovascular diseases, including ischemic heart disease and stroke, are one of the leading causes of death globally. Furthermore, many studies have shown that shingles, which occurs due to the reactivation of the varicella-zoster virus, not only causes pain and severe prolonged complications but also raises the risk of rare cardiovascular events.

Therefore, the correlation between shingles and cardiovascular diseases highlights the importance of preventive measures, especially in the management of cardiovascular diseases.

Significant impact of shingles on cardiovascular patients

Cardiovascular disease is considered one of the factors that augment the risk of developing shingles.

According to research conducted in southern Israel, more than 32 percent of shingles patients had cardiovascular diseases such as hypertension and myocardial infarction, with the risk of developing shingles in patients with comorbid cardiovascular diseases increasing by up to 34 percent.

Patients hospitalized with shingles face a significantly higher risk of severe cardiovascular complications.

Studies show that shingles patients with pre-existing cardiovascular conditions experience a 69-percent increase in the risk of myocardial infarction and an up-to-92-percent rise in the risk of heart failure.

To explore preventive strategies for shingles-related cardiovascular complications, leading healthcare experts convened at the satellite meeting titled ‘The Burden of Shingles on Cardiovascular Patients and Preventive Measures through Vaccination,’ sponsored by GSK earlier this month.

 This satellite was a part of the 19th National Cardiology Conference organized by the Vietnam Society of Cardiology in Thua Thien-Hue Province, central Vietnam, aimed at continuously updating, supplementing knowledge, and exchanging expertise among leading experts in the field of cardiology both domestically and internationally.   

Speaking at the symposium, Dr. Bui The Dung, head of the Cardiology Department at the University of Medicine and Pharmacy at Ho Chi Minh City, stated that the incidence of shingles and postherpetic neuralgia increases with age, particularly in those over 50 years old.

“The incidence of herpes zoster, followed by postherpetic neuralgia (PHN), is expected to surge due to the aging population and the development of immunocompromising conditions related to aging,” Dr. Dung said.

“Moreover, chronic diseases, such as cardiovascular diseases further elevate the risk of developing shingles.

“Notably, contracting shingles can cause rare cardiovascular complications such as an increased risk of stroke, and this risk rises immediately after infection."

Recommendations for reducing cardiovascular events caused by shingles

According to experts, current treatment options for shingles and its complications remain limited and suboptimal.

As a result, preventive measures are regarded as a crucial strategy in managing cardiovascular diseases, for these efforts can significantly lower the risk of developing shingles, reduce the occurrence of rare cardiovascular events, and help prevent disease progression.

Research in the United States shows that preventive measures against herpes zoster substantially decrease the risk of stroke in people aged 60-69.

“People aged 50 and above, as well as individuals over 18 with immunodeficiency, are at high risk of contracting shingles,” said Dr. Tran Vu Minh Thu, head of Cardiology Department 2, Cardiology Center - Tam Anh General Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City

“Therefore, it is necessary to proactively prevent shingles and its complications early on.

“Research worldwide shows that the shingles vaccine has demonstrated up-to-97.2-percent efficacy in preventing shingles and over-91-percent efficacy in preventing shingles complications when being administered to people aged 50 and above with an intact immune system, even if these individuals have underlying medical conditions.

“Furthermore, the lasting protective efficacy has been proven in long-term follow-up studies of this method.”

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