The “Shingles Misconception Survey” is an online survey conducted between August 16-18, 2023 among 3,500 adults aged 50 and over. The evaluations show that 86% of respondents underestimate the risk of shingles and its possible severity. The survey results also show that awareness of the pain that shingles can cause is low.
Around 1 in 3 people worldwide will develop shingles during their lifetime [1–4,9]. The disease usually manifests as a rash with painful blisters on the chest, abdomen or face. The pain is often described as burning, stabbing or shock-like [1]. However, the data from the online survey shows that many adults have a distorted risk assessment [5,9]: more than a quarter (28%) believe that shingles is “essentially harmless”. A quarter (26%) estimate that the risk of getting shingles in their lifetime is 1 in 100, almost a fifth (17%) think it is 1 in 1000, and almost half (49%) think it is unlikely that they will get shingles [5,9].
In reality, most adults have the virus that causes shingles in their bodies by the age of 50, and it is known that virus reactivation becomes more likely with increasing age [6,7,9]. Shingles is caused by the reactivation of the varicella zoster virus (VZV), the same virus that causes chickenpox [1]. With increasing age, the immune system’s resistance to the infection decreases, increasing the risk of developing shingles [1]. There is therefore an increased risk for people over 50 [1]. The shingles rash can also be followed by post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN), a long-lasting nerve pain that can last for weeks or months and occasionally persists for several years [1]. PHN is the most common complication of shingles and, according to the results of various studies, occurs in 5-30% of all shingles cases [8].
Adults aged over 50 from 12 countries took part in the survey study [5,9]. The new survey results were presented during Shingles Awareness Week (February 26 – March 3, 2024) as part of an awareness campaign for the risks and effects of shingles [9].
Literature:
- Harpaz R, et al: Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Prevention of herpes zoster: recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). MMWR Recomm Rep. 2008;57(RR-5): 1-30.
- Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. Shingles in Australia, www.aihw.gov.au/getmedia,(last accessed 12.03.2024)
- Lee C, et al: Lifetime risk of herpes zoster in the population of Beijing, China. Public Health in Practice 2023 Jun; 5: 100356.
- Curran D, et al: Meta-Regression of Herpes Zoster Incidence Worldwide. Infect Dis Ther 2022; 11(1): 389-403.
- Shingles Misconceptions Map Survey (Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, Portugal, South Korea, United Kingdom, United States), Pollfish on behalf of GSK. 18 August 2023.
- Mueller NH, et al: Varicella Zoster Virus Infection: Clinical Features, Molecular Pathogenesis of Disease and Latency. Neurologic Clinics 2008; 26; 675-697.
- Johnson RW, et al: Herpes zoster epidemiology, management, and disease and economic burden in Europe: a multidisciplinary perspective. Ther Adv Vaccines 2015; 3(4): 109-120.
- Kawai K, Gebremeskel BG, Acosta CJ: Systematic review of incidence and complications of herpes zoster: toward a global perspective. BMJOpen 2014; 4: e004833.
- “Global GSK survey reveals: 86% of adults surveyed underestimate shingles risk and potential severity”, GSK, 26.02.2024.
FAMILY PHYSICIAN PRACTICE 2024; 19(3): 49
