Zoster vaccine mitigates stroke risk following Varicella zoster infection

A new investigation has found that at least one zoster vaccination was found to mitigate the risk of stroke following zoster infection. The study was published in the journal, "Clinical Infectious Diseases."

There are limited studies evaluating the risk of stroke following Varicella zoster virus (VZV) infection. Also, there is no much research done to establish the utility of zoster vaccination against stroke following zoster infection. Hence, researchers from New York, U.S.A conducted a study to determine the risk of stroke 30 days following zoster infection, and to evaluate the impact of zoster vaccinations on the risk of stroke in VZV-infected patients.

Using nationwide patient data retrieved from the Veterans Affairs' Corporate Data Warehouse a retrospective case-control study was performed from January 2010 to 2020. Patients who were 18 years or older were included in the study. 

Results:

•  Out of 2,165,505 patients at the Veterans Affairs facility, 71,911 patients had a history of zoster infection. 
• Zoster patients were found to have 1.9 times increased likelihood of developing a stroke within 30 days following infection. 
• A decreased risk of stroke was seen in patients who received the recombinant zoster vaccine or the live zoster vaccine.

 Thus, researchers concluded that Patients had a significantly higher risk of stroke within the first month following recent herpes zoster infection. They also added that receiving at least one zoster vaccination was found to mitigate this increased risk and hence vaccination should be considered a protective tool against the neurologic post infection sequelae. 

To read the full article, click here: https://doi.org/10.1093/cid/ciac549 

Parameswaran GI, Wattengel BA, Chua HC, et al. Increased Stroke Risk Following Herpes Zoster Infection and Protection with Zoster Vaccine [published online ahead of print, 2022 Jul 7]. Clin Infect Dis. 2022;ciac549.