Background: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies examining the association of viral infections with the risk of cardiovascular disease, including coronary heart disease (CHD) and stroke.
Methods: MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science, African-Wide Information, and the Cochrane Library database were searched from inception to July 2024.
Results: We included 155 studies. HIV infection was consistently associated with an elevated risk of CHD (pooled adjusted risk ratio [RR], 1.60 [95% CI, 1.38-1.85]) and stroke (RR, 1.45 [95% CI, 1.26-1.67]). SARS-CoV-2 infection was associated with an increased risk of CHD (RR, 1.74 [95% CI, 1.44-2.11]) and stroke (RR, 1.69 [95% CI, 1.23-2.31]). In self-controlled case series studies, laboratory-confirmed influenza infection was associated with an elevated risk of acute myocardial infarction (pooled incidence rate ratio, 4.01 [95% CI, 2.66-6.05]) and stroke during the first 1 month (incidence rate ratio, 5.01 [95% CI, 3.41-7.37]). In cohort studies, hepatitis C virus infection was associated with a higher risk of CHD (RR, 1.27 [95% CI, 1.13-1.42]) and stroke (RR, 1.23 [95% CI, 1.04-1.46]). Herpes zoster was also associated with an elevated risk of CHD (RR, 1.12 [95% CI, 1.08-1.15]) and stroke (RR, 1.18 [95% CI, 1.09-1.27]). There is insufficient evidence to determine the effect of cytomegalovirus on cardiovascular disease. Although on a limited basis, hepatitis A virus, herpes simplex virus type 1, respiratory syncytial virus, human papillomavirus, dengue, and chikungunya have been linked to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease.
Conclusions: Influenza, SARS-CoV-2, HIV, hepatitis C virus, and herpes zoster were associated with an increased risk of major cardiovascular events. Vaccines may play an important role in preventing the risk of cardiovascular disease.
Keywords: cardiovascular diseases; infection; myocardial infarction; stroke; virus.