Study finds people with cardiovascular disease have increased risk of getting shingles
A recent study shows adults with cardiovascular disease have a higher risk of developing shingles. (Getty Images)
Results of a recent study show adults with cardiovascular disease (CVD) have an increased risk of contracting shingles.
The backstory:
Shingles is caused by the same virus that causes chicken pox. The virus stays in your body for the rest of your life and years later, may reactivate as shingles, causing a painful rash.
Dig deeper:
The study found those with heart disease had a 15% elevated risk of shingles. For people with two or more chronic conditions, including CVD, asthma, diabetes, or COPD, the risk of shingles increased up to 27%.
Age is a factor with the study showing an elevated rate of shingles in those 65 and older with CVD, which is consistent with the natural weakening of the immune system that occurs as we age and decreases the ability of older adults to fight off infections, putting them at higher risk of severe illness.
The study was conducted by GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) in collaboration with Dr. Mark Loeb from McMaster University and Dr. Philip Baer from the Ontario Medical Association. Support for the study was provided by IQVIA Solutions Canada Inc.
The Source: Information for this article was obtained from information provided by GlaxoSmithKline and the Mayo Clinic. This story was reported from Orlando.