       Document 0709
 DOCN  M95A0709
 TI    The incidence of herpes zoster.
 DT    9510
 AU    Donahue JG; Choo PW; Manson JE; Platt R; Channing Laboratory, Department
       of Medicine, Brigham and Women's; Hospital, Boston, Mass., USA.
 SO    Arch Intern Med. 1995 Aug 7-21;155(15):1605-9. Unique Identifier :
       AIDSLINE MED/95344292
 AB    BACKGROUND: There are few population-based studies of the natural
       history and epidemiology of herpes zoster. Although a relatively common
       cause of morbidity, especially among the elderly, contemporary estimates
       of herpes zoster incidence are lacking. Herein we describe a
       population-based investigation of incident and recurrent herpes zoster
       from 1990 through 1992 in a health maintenance organization. METHODS:
       The health maintenance organization's automated medical records contain
       clinical and administrative information about care rendered to patients
       in ambulatory settings, emergency departments, and hospitals. Cases of
       herpes zoster were ascertained by screening the medical record for coded
       diagnoses. The predictive value of a herpes zoster diagnosis code was
       determined by review of a sample of patient records. Records from all
       patients with potential recurrences were also reviewed. RESULTS: The
       overall incidence, based on 1075 cases in 500,408 person-years, was 215
       per 100,000 person-years (95% confidence interval, 192 to 240 per
       100,000) and did not vary by gender. Although the rate increased sharply
       with age, approximately 5% of the cases occurred among children younger
       than 15 years. Infection with human immunodeficiency virus was
       documented in 5% of the persons with incident herpes zoster and cancer
       in 6%. Four persons had confirmed recurrences of herpes zoster (744 per
       100,000 person-years; 95% confidence interval, 203 to 1907); three of
       these persons were infected with the human immunodeficiency virus.
       CONCLUSIONS: The recorded incidence of herpes zoster was 64% higher than
       that reported 30 years ago; the age-standardized rate was more than
       twofold higher. Immunosuppressive conditions had little impact on
       overall incidence, although they were strongly associated with early
       recurrences.
 DE    Adolescence  Adult  Age Distribution  Aged  Diagnosis-Related Groups
       Female  Herpes Zoster/COMPLICATIONS/*EPIDEMIOLOGY  Human  Incidence
       Male  Massachusetts/EPIDEMIOLOGY  Medical Records  Middle Age
       Recurrence  Retrospective Studies  Sex Distribution  Support, Non-U.S.
       Gov't  JOURNAL ARTICLE

       SOURCE: National Library of Medicine.  NOTICE: This material may be
       protected by Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.Code).

