Evidence map›Paper›PMID 24916088›Full record

SynthesisBMJ open2014

Systematic review of incidence and complications of herpes zoster: towards a global perspective.

Kosuke Kawai, Berhanu G Gebremeskel, Camilo J Acosta

2 registry-linked trialsOpen access · goldAbstract readSystematic Review
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in BMJ open, 2014. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to 2 registered trials, which are not on this map. Cited by 492 papers, 11 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
492citing papers in PubMed, 11 pooled it
27.0field-weighted citation impact, top 1% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

NCT04560361 nacompletednot on this mapstarted 2020, after this paper: background citation

The Analgesic Effect of Electroacupuncture on Postherpetic Neuralgia: a Multicenter Randomized Controlled Trial

TypeinterventionalSponsorNanjing University of Traditional Chinese MedicineRan2020 to 2022Enrolled448ConditionsPostherpetic NeuralgiaArmsElectroacupuncture treatment, Sham electroacupuncture treatment
NCT06261801 narecruitingnot on this mapstarted 2024, after this paper: background citation

Efficacy of Electroacupuncture Combined With Pregabalin in the Treatment of Trigeminal Herpetic Neuralgia: a Multicenter Randomized Controlled Trial Study Protocol

TypeinterventionalSponsorThe Third People's Hospital of HangzhouRan2024 to 2025Enrolled102ConditionsTrigeminal Herpetic NeuralgiaArmsMedication Group, EA Group, EA+Medication Group
3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

492 citing papers in PubMed, 11 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 902 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Pooled it
  3. Global herpes zoster burden in adults with COPD: a systematic review and meta-analysis.European respiratory review : an official journal of the European Respiratory Society · 2026
    Pooled it
  4. Pooled it
  5. Pooled it
  6. Pooled it
  7. Pooled it
  8. Pooled it
  9. Pooled it
  10. Pooled it
  11. Pooled it
  12. Trial
  13. Trial
  14. Trial
  15. Trial
  16. Trial
  17. Trial
  18. Trial
  19. Trial
  20. Article

432 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

3 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.

Kosuke KawaiGlobal Health Outcomes, Merck & Co., Inc., West Point, Pennsylvania, USA.
Berhanu G GebremeskelSchool of Public Health, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, New Jersey, USA.
Camilo J AcostaGlobal Health Outcomes, Merck & Co., Inc., West Point, Pennsylvania, USA.
United States Military Academy · USRutgers, The State University of New Jersey · US

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveThe objective of this study was to characterise the incidence rates of herpes zoster (HZ), also known as shingles, and risk of complications across the world.

designWe systematically reviewed studies examining the incidence rates of HZ, temporal trends of HZ, the risk of complications including postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) and HZ-associated hospitalisation and mortality rates in the general population. The literature search was conducted using PubMed, EMBASE and the WHO library up to December 2013.

resultsWe included 130 studies conducted in 26 countries. The incidence rate of HZ ranged between 3 and 5/1000 person-years in North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific, based on studies using prospective surveillance, electronic medical record data or administrative data with medical record review. A temporal increase in the incidence of HZ was reported in the past several decades across seven countries, often occurring before the introduction of varicella vaccination programmes. The risk of developing PHN varied from 5% to more than 30%, depending on the type of study design, age distribution of study populations and definition. More than 30% of patients with PHN experienced persistent pain for more than 1 year. The risk of recurrence of HZ ranged from 1% to 6%, with long-term follow-up studies showing higher risk (5-6%). Hospitalisation rates ranged from 2 to 25/100 000 person-years, with higher rates among elderly populations.

conclusionsHZ is a significant global health burden that is expected to increase as the population ages. Future research with rigorous methods is important.

Indexed as

Global HealthHerpes ZosterHumansIncidenceRisk FactorsEPIDEMIOLOGYVIROLOGY

Identifiers

PMID24916088
PMCPMC4067812
OpenAlexW2040947756

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.