Burden of herpes zoster in adults by age, sex, and underlying conditions in Taiwan: A retrospective cohort study, 2011–2020

This is the authors' abstract. We don't add key points for this paper.

< .0001) and IC/AID/CC (2011-2019: 9.01-10.28/1,000 PY) populations. Older adults (aged ≥50 years) and patients with IC conditions/AID/CC (versus younger adults aged 18-49 years and the general adult population, respectively) demonstrated higher incidence of HZ and HZ-related complications, and healthcare utilization. Individuals with specific underlying IC conditions/AID/CC (e.g. human immunodeficiency virus infection [24.52/1,000 PY]) had substantially higher HZ incidence rates than others (e.g. stroke [8.39/1,000 PY]). Patients with HZ developing postherpetic neuralgia (versus non-pain complications) had substantially greater outpatient visits and associated costs. Findings demonstrate the considerable disease and health economic burden of HZ in Taiwan, particularly in older adults and the IC/AID/CC population. These results highlight the need for strengthening prevention strategies, with vaccination as a key public health intervention, to reduce HZ incidence and complications.