Key result
Herpes zoster in T2DM linked to ~238% higher MI risk and increased stroke within two weeks.
Why the study?
Herpes zoster has been associated with cardiovascular events, but evidence in type 2 diabetes mellitus is limited.
Does Herpes Zoster increase the risk of Myocardial Infarction and Ischemic Stroke in older adults with T2DM?
Cohort
Yes
Does Herpes Zoster increase the risk of Myocardial Infarction and Ischemic Stroke in older adults with T2DM?
Herpes zoster is associated with a significantly increased short-term risk of MI and ischemic stroke in older adults with type 2 diabetes, particularly within the first 2 weeks.
HZ may raise MI/IS risk in older T2DM adults; extends general-population observations but leaves causality open.
Introduction and Objective: HZ has been associated with a higher risk of cardiovascular events, but evidence in T2DM is limited. This analysis assessed associations between HZ and MI/IS in older adults with T2DM. Methods: Using US administrative claims and EHR data (Optum Market Clarity, 2016-2024), adults with T2DM and HZ were identified by ICD-10 diagnosis codes. Four adults with T2DM and no HZ were sampled per HZ case. Index was the first HZ diagnosis or an assigned date for the non-HZ cohort. MI/IS were identified from inpatient ICD-10 diagnosis codes. Crude cumulative MI and IS incidence proportions were described in each cohort among adults aged ≥50 years. Adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) for MI/IS were estimated using Cox proportional hazards models with time-stratified follow-up. Results: Patients with HZ were older and had greater comorbidity burden than those without HZ (Table). Adjusted HRs, accounting for baseline differences between cohorts, indicated a higher risk of MI following HZ in weeks 1-2 (3.38; 95% CI 2.27-5.02) and months 2-3 (1.45; 1.11-1.90) and a higher risk of IS in weeks 1-2 (7.11; 4.43-11.40), weeks 3-4 (2.08; 1.11-3.89), and months 2-3 (1.49; 1.09-2.05) (Table). Conclusion: HZ was associated with a short-term increase in MI and IS risk among older adults with T2DM, highest in the first 2 weeks and generally declining thereafter, highlighting a potential additional burden of HZ. Funding: GSK (study identifier VEO-223763). Disclosure N. Stempniewicz: Employee; Current; GlaxoSmithKline plc. Stock/Shareholder; Current; GlaxoSmithKline plc. A. Steffens: Employee; Current; UnitedHealth Group. Other - Optum (of UnitedHealth Group) received funding from GSK for this project.; Current; GlaxoSmithKline plc. Stock/Shareholder; Current; UnitedHealth Group. S. Hague: None. C. Steiger: Other - I am an employee of Optum who has been paid by GSK to complete the analysis for this manuscript.; Current; GlaxoSmithKline plc. P. Koka: Other - GSK paid Optum to perform research. And I am employee to Optum.; Current; GlaxoSmithKline plc. J. Carrico: Employee; Current; GlaxoSmithKline plc.
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Stempniewicz et al. (2026) conducted a cohort in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) and Herpes Zoster (HZ). Herpes Zoster (HZ) vs. No Herpes Zoster was evaluated on Myocardial Infarction (MI) in weeks 1-2 (HR 3.38, 95% CI 2.27-5.02). Herpes zoster in older adults with T2DM was associated with increased risk of MI (HR 3.38; 95% CI 2.27-5.02) and ischemic stroke (HR 7.11; 95% CI 4.43-11.40) in the first 1-2 weeks.
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