ARIZONA study: is the risk of post-herpetic neuralgia and its burden increased in the most elderly patients?

• Published in: BMC infectious diseases 2014-10, Vol.14 (1), p.529-529, Article 529
• Main Authors: Duracinsky, Martin, Paccalin, Marc, Gavazzi, Gaëtan, El Kebir, Sohéla, Gaillat, Jacques, Strady, Christophe, Bouhassira, Didier, Chassany, Olivier
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Analysis; Cohort Studies; Epidemiology; Female; Frailty; France - epidemiology; Health aspects; Herpes Zoster - complications; Herpes Zoster - epidemiology; Humans; Male; Medical research; Medicine, Experimental; Neuralgia, Postherpetic - epidemiology; Neuralgia, Postherpetic - etiology; Older people; Prospective Studies; Quality of life; Risk Factors; Studies; Surveys; Surveys and Questionnaires
• ISSN: 1471-2334; 1471-2334
• DOI: 10.1186/1471-2334-14-529

In a context of change in the demographic profile of the older population, to identify an age threshold for increased risk and burden of herpes zoster (HZ) in 70+ patients. Post hoc analysis of the 12-month French nationwide prospective observational ARIZONA cohort study. HZ was assessed by means of the following validated questionnaires: Neuropathic Pain Symptom Inventory (NPSI), Zoster Brief Pain Inventory (ZBPI), Short-Form health survey (SF-12), and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). 644 general practitioners included 1,358 volunteer patients with acute HZ in the ARIZONA study; 609 patients (45%) were 70+. In 70+ patients, age did not increase rash severity or HZ-related pain intensity at diagnosis, but increased by 64% the frequency of ophthalmic zoster (from 5.5% in 70-74 years age-group to 9.0% in 85+ patients, p = NS). Age was significantly associated with low physical health as assessed by the SF-12 Physical Component Summary (SF-12 PCS) score and bad mood as assessed by the HADS depression score (p