Epidemiology of Herpes Zoster Infection among Patients Treated in Primary Care Centres in the Valencian Community (Spain)

Abstract

BackgroundThere is little available data regarding the epidemiology of herpes zoster (HZ) in Spain. This study's main goal was to estimate the annual incidence of HZ in the Autonomous Community of Valencia.MethodsFrom December 1st 2006 to December 1st 2007, a prospective study was carried out in 24 primary health care centres that together provide care for a population of 36,030 persons aged >14 years. We included all adult patients with a clinical diagnosis of HZ who were seen at these centres during the one-year study period. Demographic (i.e., age, gender, and area of residence) and clinical data were also collected from these patients.ResultsA total of 146 cases of HZ were identified during the study period. The annual incidence of HZ was 4.1/1,000 individuals >14 years of age (95% confidence interval [CI]: 3.4-4.7). Cases of HZ were predominantly unilateral and most commonly affected women and people living in rural areas. The most frequently reported symptoms were pain, dysesthesia and itching. A total of 46% of patients also had underlying illnesses (e.g., chronic diseases and/or malignancy) and 24% of patients experienced complications, which were mostly ocular in nature. A total of 91% of patients were treated with antiviral drugs. The median time from symptoms onset to diagnosis was 6.3 days (range: 2.0-8.3).ConclusionsHZ is a common illness in our region (especially in the older population) that causes a significant clinical burden on primary care providers.

Herpes zoster and postherpetic neuralgia in Catalonia (Spain)

“…A recent study has shown no significant differences in the incidence of HZ between European countries. 24 In addition, studies in Spain (Navarre, 19 Valencia, [14][15][16] and Madrid 18 ) based on administrative data from primary healthcare show very similar results (overall incidence in all age groups of about 4 per 1000 inhabitants, although the Valencian study 14,15 did not include subjects aged <14 y). The study by Yawn et al, 7 one of the most comprehensive epidemiological studies of HZ, found similar incidence rates to those observed in Spain, as did other studies performed in Europe, [25][26][27][28][29] Israel, 30 and the United States.…”

“…In Spain, incidence studies of HZ have been published based on data obtained from public primary healthcare centers in Valencia, [14][15][16] Madrid 17,18 and Navarre. 19 In Navarre, which has an excellent public health system, the proportion of patients seen by private family physicians and dermatologists is very low.…”

“…[14][15][16][17][18][19] However, information on the epidemiology of PHN (proportion of cases of HZ that evolve to PHN, the incidence of PHN in the general population, the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of PHN, etc.) and, especially, the characteristics of pain in the different stages of HZ, is limited.…”

The Epidemiology of Herpes Zoster in Patients with Newly Diagnosed Cancer

“…In patients with hematologic malignancies, only higher level of immunosuppression was clearly associated with increased risk of HZ. In prior studies in the general population, factors associated with increased risk of HZ have included older age, disease, and drug-related suppression of cellular immunity, and to a lesser extent female gender (1,48,51). Data are more limited on the association between race/ethnicity and risk of HZ among otherwise healthy adults, with 2 studies finding that blacks were at lower risk than whites (5,52), and one study finding that HZ was less common among Hispanics than among non-Hispanic whites (53).…”

Vacunas frente al virus de la varicela zóster

“…La carga de la enfermedad es semejante en todos los países desarrollados [4][5][6][7]38,133,137,138 .…”