BACKGROUND: Several studies have reported risk factors for herpes zoster (HZ), but their results remain controversial and difficult to compare because of their limitations regarding sampling and design. OBJECTIVES: This study was aimed to determine risk factors in ambulatory patients aged 50 years or more, by consulting general practitioners (GPs) in France. STUDY DESIGN: A prospective, national, matched case-control study was conducted. It involved 121 GPs who recruited 250 cases of HZ and 500 controls (matched by age and sex), aged 50 years and older, between April 2009 and September 2010. GP and patient questionnaires explored the following risk factors: family history of HZ, comorbidities, depression, anxiety, negative life events, physical trauma, alcohol and tobacco consumption, level of education, and various protective factors (such as exposure to children). Odds ratios were estimated using conditional logistic regression. RESULTS: In multivariate adjusted analysis, a family history of HZ (OR 3.69, 95% CI 1.81-7.51), a HAD depressive score≥8 (OR 4.15, 95% CI 1.88-9.16), and a recent negative life event (OR 3.40, 95% CI 1.67-6.93) were all significantly associated with HZ. CONCLUSIONS: This case-control study conducted in ambulatory patients in general practice reinforced the hypothesis that, in addition to the age-related decline in VZV-specific T-cell-mediated immunity, depression negative life event and familiar history of zoster increase the risk of occurrence of herpes zoster. In people with familiar history, this risk could be prevented by vaccination.
BACKGROUND: Several studies have reported risk factors for herpes zoster (HZ), but their results remain controversial and difficult to compare because of their limitations regarding sampling and design. OBJECTIVES: This study was aimed to determine risk factors in ambulatory patients aged 50 years or more, by consulting general practitioners (GPs) in France. STUDY DESIGN: A prospective, national, matched case-control study was conducted. It involved 121 GPs who recruited 250 cases of HZ and 500 controls (matched by age and sex), aged 50 years and older, between April 2009 and September 2010. GP and patient questionnaires explored the following risk factors: family history of HZ, comorbidities, depression, anxiety, negative life events, physical trauma, alcohol and tobacco consumption, level of education, and various protective factors (such as exposure to children). Odds ratios were estimated using conditional logistic regression. RESULTS: In multivariate adjusted analysis, a family history of HZ (OR 3.69, 95% CI 1.81-7.51), a HAD depressive score≥8 (OR 4.15, 95% CI 1.88-9.16), and a recent negative life event (OR 3.40, 95% CI 1.67-6.93) were all significantly associated with HZ. CONCLUSIONS: This case-control study conducted in ambulatory patients in general practice reinforced the hypothesis that, in addition to the age-related decline in VZV-specific T-cell-mediated immunity, depression negative life event and familiar history of zoster increase the risk of occurrence of herpes zoster. In people with familiar history, this risk could be prevented by vaccination.
Authors: Hung Fu Tseng; Margaret Chi; Peggy Hung; Rafael Harpaz; D Scott Schmid; Philip LaRussa; Lina S Sy; Yi Luo; Kimberly Holmquist; Harpreet Takhar; Steven J Jacobsen Journal: Int J Infect Dis Date: 2017-11-13 Impact factor: 3.623
Authors: Benson Ogunjimi; Evelien Smits; Steven Heynderickx; Johan Van den Bergh; Joke Bilcke; Hilde Jansens; Ronald Malfait; Jose Ramet; Holden T Maecker; Nathalie Cools; Philippe Beutels; Pierre Van Damme Journal: Clin Vaccine Immunol Date: 2014-01-15
Authors: Manuel Batram; Julian Witte; Magdalena Schwarz; Johannes Hain; Bernhard Ultsch; Maren Steinmann; Amit Bhavsar; Peter Wutzler; Carl-Peter Criée; Christiane Hermann; Klaus Wahle; Martin Füchtenbusch; Wolfgang Greiner Journal: Dermatol Ther (Heidelb) Date: 2021-05-06
Authors: Sigrun A J Schmidt; Sinéad M Langan; Henrik S Pedersen; Henrik C Schønheyder; Sara L Thomas; Liam Smeeth; Kathryn E Mansfield; Henrik T Sørensen; Harriet J Forbes; Mogens Vestergaard Journal: Am J Epidemiol Date: 2018-05-01 Impact factor: 4.897