US study links Shingrix to lower heart risks
In the United States, an observational study involving about 72,000 people aged 60 and older linked vaccination against shingles with Shingrix to a reduced risk of coronary heart disease and heart failure. According to MarketWatch, the work was published in Nature Medicine and was led by researchers at the University of Oxford.
Over seven years, the risk of coronary heart disease in the group that received Shingrix was 10% lower, while the risk of heart failure was 12% lower, than among those who received the older Zostavax vaccine. The researchers analyzed medical records: about half of the participants predominantly received Zostavax in 2017, while the other half received Shingrix during the same five months of 2018.
Data on dementia
Another study, published in 2024 by some of the same Oxford researchers, found an association between Shingrix and delaying a dementia diagnosis by about six months. Other studies have also linked the older Zostavax vaccine to slower biological aging and lower overall mortality.
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At the same time, doctors emphasize that the available findings do not prove that the vaccine can directly prevent heart disease or dementia. Most of this work is observational and based on analyses of medical records. The conclusions may be affected by the healthy volunteer effect: vaccinated people may generally lead healthier lifestyles and seek medical care more often.
Planned clinical trial
GSK plans to conduct a phase three clinical trial involving 16,000 adults who have heart disease or are at risk of developing it. Researchers will examine whether Shingrix can reduce the risk of serious cardiovascular events. According to a company representative, participant recruitment is expected to begin later this year, while results are not expected for several years.
Shingrix is a recombinant vaccine approved by the US Food and Drug Administration in 2017. In the United States, it is recommended in two doses for everyone aged 50 and older, as well as for people aged 18 and older with immunodeficiency or those taking immunosuppressive medications.
