New Large-Scale Observational Study Shows COVID-19 Could Create Vulnerability to Shingles for People Age 50+
07 April 2022 - 12:00AM
Business Wire
- Analysis of data collected between March 2020–February 2021
from nearly 2 million Americans indicates patients diagnosed with
COVID-19 may be more likely to develop shingles in the six months
following diagnosis
- Observed effect was higher for patients with severe cases of
COVID-19 who required hospitalization
According to a new study
conducted by GSK, people age 50 or older in the US who have had
COVID-19 may be at greater risk of developing shingles – a painful
rash – compared to those who haven’t been diagnosed with COVID-19.
This research was published in the Infectious Diseases Society of
America’s Open Forum Infectious Diseases.
Key findings include:
- In this retrospective cohort study, people aged 50 or older who
contracted COVID-19 were 15% more likely to develop shingles
compared to controls who were never diagnosed with COVID-19.
- Risk of shingles was elevated for up to six
months after a COVID-19 diagnosis.
- Those hospitalized for COVID-19 were 21% more likely to
develop shingles.
The study observed adults aged 50 years and older using claims
data from two large US databases and matched persons with and
without COVID-19 using various known shingles risk factors. Anyone
vaccinated against either shingles or COVID-19 was excluded from
the cohorts.
“This is the first epidemiological evidence linking prior
COVID-19 infection with increased shingles risk among older adults,
who are already at heightened risk of shingles due to age-related
decline in immunity,” said Temi Folaranmi, MD, Vice President and
Vaccines Therapeutic Area Head, US Medical Affairs, GSK. “It is
important that healthcare professionals are aware of this potential
increased risk so patients can be diagnosed and treated early if
they develop shingles following COVID-19. These results also
highlight the importance of preventative measures, such as
vaccination, to protect the health and wellbeing of older adults
who are at risk for vaccine-preventable diseases like COVID-19 and
shingles.”
Shingles, also known as herpes zoster, is caused by a
reactivation of the varicella zoster virus (VZV) – the same virus
that causes chickenpox – which lays dormant in the body after the
initial infection. Nearly all adults over age 50 carry the virus
that causes shingles. Natural age-related decline of the immune
system can allow VZV to resurface, causing shingles. People with a
suppressed or compromised immune system are also at increased risk
of developing shingles.
The study authors, as well as case report publications, suggest
that COVID-19 could trigger shingles by disrupting immune cells,
allowing VZV to reactivate. More research is needed to confirm this
hypothesis.
Shingles typically presents as a painful rash on one side of the
face or body. Most people who get the disease experience acute
pain, often described as aching or burning, which can cause
significant disruptions to a person’s day-to-day activities for up
to several weeks.
For more information on treatment and prevention, visit the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) resources on
shingles.
Study Methodology
Data were sourced from the Truven MarketScan Commercial Claims
and Encounters, Medicare Supplemental and Optum Clinformatics Data
Mart databases. These databases contain medical claims,
prescription drugs and outpatient laboratory results data.
Individuals with a first-time COVID-19 diagnosis were matched
with controls according to age, sex, shingles risk factors and
healthcare costs. Each patient in the COVID-19 group was randomly
matched to four patients in the non-COVID-19 group among a pool of
individuals who fit the criteria.
To be included, individuals could not have received prior
COVID-19 or shingles vaccinations. Vaccination status was based on
National Drug Codes and Current Procedural Terminology codes.
Limitations of the study include those inherent to retrospective
research based on claims data. Even though the study was controlled
for possible confounding, there is the possibility for residual
confounding. For example, while the study excluded HZ- and
COVID-19-vaccinated persons, it is possible that not all
vaccinations were recorded in the database. Additionally, the two
databases included do not contain information from individuals
insured through Medicaid or Medicare (other than Medicare
Advantage) which may affect the generalizability of results.
About GSK
GSK is a science-led global healthcare company. For further
information please visit www.gsk.com/about-us.
Cautionary statement regarding forward-looking
statements
GSK cautions investors that any forward-looking statements or
projections made by GSK, including those made in this announcement,
are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual
results to differ materially from those projected. Such factors
include, but are not limited to, those described in the Company's
Annual Report on Form 20-F for 2020, GSK’s Q3 Results and any
impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
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