Recombinant Zoster Vaccine Reduces 3-Year Cardiovascular Risk: Insights From a Multi-Centered Database.

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Infectious Diseases
• Vaccinology
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Herpes zoster infection is a known risk factor for major adverse cardiovascular events, including stroke and myocardial infarction.
• The protective effects of zoster vaccination against these cardiovascular outcomes remain under-researched.
• This study investigates the potential of prophylactic zoster vaccination in mitigating cardiovascular risk and mortality.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of recombinant zoster vaccine (RZV) on the incidence of myocardial infarction, stroke, and mortality.
• To compare the risks associated with RZV versus no vaccination and RZV versus zoster vaccine live (ZVL).

Main Methods:

• A retrospective cohort analysis using the TriNetX national federated database.
• Propensity-score matched analysis comparing 7,657 patients who received 2 doses of RZV against unvaccinated adults.
• Assessment of 3-year incidence of myocardial infarction, stroke, and mortality, with subgroup analysis comparing RZV and ZVL.

Main Results:

• Adults receiving 2 doses of RZV demonstrated a reduced risk of myocardial infarction (aRR: 0.73) and mortality (aRR: 0.70) compared to unvaccinated individuals.
• No significant difference in stroke risk was observed between the RZV and unvaccinated groups (aRR: 0.97).
• Subgroup analysis indicated a lower 3-year mortality risk for RZV recipients compared to those who received ZVL (aRR: 0.84).

Conclusions:

• The study concludes that recombinant zoster vaccine (RZV) administration is associated with a significant reduction in the 3-year risk of myocardial infarction and mortality.
• RZV may provide protective benefits against cardiovascular events and improve survival rates.
• Limitations include potential biases due to database constraints on sample size and comorbidity data.