Live zoster vaccination and cardiovascular outcomes: a nationwide, South Korean study
Authors' conclusion
These findings suggest that live zoster vaccination may be beneficial as a public health strategy with potential implications for cardiovascular disease burden in the general population.
Study context
- Population
- Individuals aged ≥50 years in South Korea, 2012–20211,271,922 overlap-weighted
- Participants
- 2,207,784 individuals
- Exposure
- Live zoster vaccination vs no vaccination
- Outcome
- Risk of CVD by International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision code diagnosis
Methodological detailsnationwide, population-based, propensity score-based overlap weighting
- Nationwide
- Population-based
- Propensity score-based overlap weighting
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Overall CV events
Each group vs unvaccinatedHazard ratio (95% CI)
Vaccinated
0.77(0.76–0.78)
Each group vs unvaccinatedRMST difference, days per decade (95% CI)
Vaccinated
95.14(94.99–95.30)
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
| Outcome | HR (CI) | |
|---|---|---|
| Specific CV outcomes — Vaccinated vs Unvaccinated · MACE | 0.74 (0.71–0.77) | |
| Specific CV outcomes — Vaccinated vs Unvaccinated · HF | 0.74 (0.70–0.77) | |
| Specific CV outcomes — Vaccinated vs Unvaccinated · cerebrovascular disorders | 0.76 (0.74–0.78) | |
| Specific CV outcomes — Vaccinated vs Unvaccinated · ischaemic heart disease | 0.78 (0.76–0.80) | |
| Specific CV outcomes — Vaccinated vs Unvaccinated · thrombotic disorders | 0.78 (0.74–0.83) | |
| Specific CV outcomes — Vaccinated vs Unvaccinated · dysrhythmia | 0.79 (0.77–0.81) | |
| 0.512Hazard ratio (log scale) |
Duration of association
- Protective association persisted up to 8 years, greatest reduction 2-3 years post-vaccination
CVD risk by subgroup
- Decrease more pronounced among males, age <60 years, unhealthy lifestyle habits, low-income households and rural residents
Original publication
Live zoster vaccination and cardiovascular outcomes: a nationwide, South Korean study. Eur Heart J. Published 5 May 2025. doi:10.
Summarised from the published abstract; every number is checked against it