Potential Relationship Between Cytomegalovirus and Cardiovascular Disease: Evidence From Observational Studies

Area of Science:

• Epidemiology
• Infectious Diseases
• Cardiology

Background:

• Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a common herpesvirus with high global prevalence.
• While often asymptomatic, CMV infection is increasingly investigated for links to long-term health issues, including cardiovascular disease (CVD).

Purpose of the Study:

• To review and synthesize epidemiological literature on the association between CMV infection and cardiovascular disease.
• To identify patterns and inconsistencies in study findings regarding CMV and CVD outcomes.

Main Methods:

• A targeted literature search identified 18 population-based observational studies published since 2000.
• Studies examined laboratory-confirmed CMV and various CVD outcomes such as myocardial infarction, stroke, thrombosis, embolism, and cardiovascular mortality.

Main Results:

• Nine of the 18 studies reported significant associations between CMV infection and CVD outcomes (e.g., stroke in women, venous thromboembolism, cardiovascular mortality).
• Reported associations were generally modest (hazard/odds ratios typically below three).
• Significant heterogeneity existed across studies due to variations in populations, designs, outcome definitions, and CMV measurement methods, with serologic assays limiting distinction between infection types.

Conclusions:

• Evidence suggests a potential association between CMV infection and certain cardiovascular outcomes.
• Further research is needed to clarify the relationship, focusing on refined exposure/outcome definitions, sex-specific effects, and confounding factors like inflammation.