RSV VACCINATION HELPS PROTECT VULNERABLE HEARTS - IJN

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 3 (Bernama) -- Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), a common but often overlooked infection, has been identified as a hidden trigger that can tip vulnerable hearts into crisis, according to Institut Jantung Negara (IJN).

RSV may not seem dramatic at first, yet it can inflame the body, strain the lungs, and precipitate cardiac events in people with underlying heart disease, with a meta-analysis of laboratory-confirmed adult RSV indicating that up to one in five patients experienced cardiovascular complications.

IJN Head of Cardiology and Consultant Cardiologist Datuk Seri Dr Azmee Mohd Ghazi said RSV prevention should be viewed as part of cardiovascular care, particularly for older adults and high-risk patients.

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"As cardiologists, we often meet patients after a crisis. The lesson RSV teaches us is simple. If we can prevent the infection, we may prevent the cardiac spiral that follows," he was quoted in a statement issued in conjunction with World Heart Day, which is celebrated every Sept 29.

According to IJN, The European Society of Cardiology’s Clinical Consensus Statement 2025 also frames vaccination as a new form of cardiovascular prevention, especially for older adults and those living with heart disease.

The statement noted that cardiovascular disease remains one of the leading causes of death in Malaysia, with official data showing ischaemic heart disease accounting for between 15 and 18 per cent of deaths in recent years, alternating with pneumonia as the country’s top cause.

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IJN said Malaysia has taken a step forward by authorising RSV vaccines for adults aged 50 and above, with additional at-risk use in some jurisdictions, providing clinicians and families with a concrete tool to act before the monsoon-season surge in respiratory viruses.

“RSV vaccination gives us a new lever. For an older person with hypertension and raised cholesterol, one bad chest infection can lead to a heart failure admission.

“Vaccinating before the RSV season is a common sense way to protect both lungs and heart,” Dr Azmee said, adding that RSV is present throughout the year in Malaysia.

According to the statement, policymakers should integrate RSV vaccination into healthy-ageing and Non-Communicable Disease (NCD) strategies, starting with those aged 60 and above and people with cardiovascular disease.

It said healthcare providers should treat RSV vaccination in the same way as flu and pneumococcal shots in risk-based care plans for adults and older adults with heart disease, while families are advised to consult doctors about vaccination for parents or grandparents over 60 ahead of high-transmission months.

"Prevention is powerful when it is layered. Medication adherence, diet, and exercise remain essential. Adding targeted vaccination against RSV helps close a dangerous gap for older Malaysians," said Dr Azmee.

-- BERNAMA