Observational studyBMC infectious diseases2018
Impact of herpes zoster and postherpetic neuralgia on the quality of life of Germans aged 50 or above.
Observational study in BMC infectious diseases, 2018. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 50 papers, 3 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
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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.
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.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
50 citing papers in PubMed, 3 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 78 citations in OpenAlex.
- Current advances in the epidemiology, risk factors, prevention, management, and long-term outcomes of herpes zoster and post-herpetic neuralgia.Frontiers in microbiology · 2026Pooled it
- Clinical research on traditional Chinese medicine for Postherpetic neuralgia: an evidence map.Frontiers in neurology · 2025Pooled it
- Risk factors for herpes zoster infections: a systematic review and meta-analysis unveiling common trends and heterogeneity patterns.Infection · 2024Pooled it
- Efficacy and Safety of Crisugabalin (HSK16149) in Adults with Postherpetic Neuralgia: A Phase 3 Randomized Clinical Trial.JAMA dermatology · 2024Trial
- Ultrasound-Guided Dry Needling for Trigger Point Inactivation in the Treatment of Postherpetic Neuralgia Mixed with Myofascial Pain Syndrome: A Prospective and Controlled Clinical Study.Pain research & management · 2022Trial
- Ultrasound-Guided Inactivation of Trigger Points Combined with Muscle Fascia Stripping by Liquid Knife in Treatment of Postherpetic Neuralgia Complicated with Abdominal Myofascial Pain Syndrome: A Prospective and Controlled Clinical Study.Pain research & management · 2020Trial
- Quantitative study of the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) towards herpes zoster (HZ) and HZ vaccination: Survey findings from a multi-country study in Asia (ZOASIS).Human vaccines & immunotherapeutics · 2026Article
- Saikosaponin D Attenuates Postherpetic Neuralgia and Reduces Inflammation by Regulating Gut Microbiota in a Rodent Model.Biochemical genetics · 2026Article
- Herpes zoster risk among female survivors of breast cancer in Japan.Breast cancer research : BCR · 2026Article
- A European Delphi Consensus to Support the Diagnosis, Management, and Appropriate Positioning of Topical Treatments for Postherpetic Neuralgia (PHN).Pain and therapy · 2026Article
- Estimation of Costs Related to the Management of Herpes Zoster and its Complications in Vietnam: A Medical Chart Review.Infectious diseases and therapy · 2026Article
- Profiles of Hesitancy Toward the Herpes Zoster Vaccine Among Older Adults in China: A Latent Profile Analysis.Vaccines · 2026Article
- Informing decisions in light of parameter uncertainty - an economic evaluation of the adjuvanted recombinant herpes zoster vaccine in Sweden.The European journal of health economics : HEPAC : health economics in prevention and care · 2026Article
- A Short Review and Update on Epidemiology, Treatment, and Management of Herpes Zoster (Shingles) Infection.Current pharmaceutical design · 2026Review
- A Study on the Efficacy and Safety of Intravenous Lidocaine Infusion Combined with Pulsed Radiofrequency in Preventing Postherpetic Neuralgia: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Controlled Trial.Journal of pain research · 2026Article
- Disease burden and health-related quality of life among adults aged 50 years or older with herpes zoster in Huzhou, China.Frontiers in public health · 2026Article
- Venlafaxine for the Prevention of Postherpetic Neuralgia in Patients with Acute Herpes Zoster: Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial.Journal of pain research · 2026Article
- Herpes Zoster in Hematological Disorders: Pathogenesis, Risk Stratification, and Emerging Strategies for Prevention and Immunization.European journal of haematology · 2026Review
- Efficacy of Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy for Postherpetic Neuralgia.Pain practice : the official journal of World Institute of Pain · 2025Article
- Quality of life in people with herpes zoster: a cross-sectional study in China.Health and quality of life outcomes · 2025Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
6 authors at 3 institutions in 2 countries.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundHerpes zoster (HZ) is a painful dermatomal rash caused by reactivation of latent varicella zoster virus surviving in the patient's sensory ganglia after a previous episode of varicella. The incidence of HZ increases markedly with age as does the proportion of HZ patients who develop postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) with often severe and debilitating pain persisting for months and even years. This prospective study aimed to assess the impact of HZ and PHN on the quality of life (QoL) of individuals aged ≥ 50 years in Germany.
methodsPatients were recruited when consulting primary care physicians for a first HZ episode. PHN was defined as a 'worst' pain score ≥ 3 on the Zoster Brief Pain Inventory (ZBPI) scale persisting or appearing 90 days or more after rash onset. PHN-cases were followed for up to nine months after rash onset. The interference of pain with patients' ability to carry out normal activities was assessed by the ZBPI activities of daily living (ADL) scale and QoL by the EuroQoL five-dimension scale (EQ-5D) utility score.
resultsOf 513 patients enrolled, 61 (11.9%) developed PHN. At HZ onset, the mean ZBPI worst pain score of all patients was 5.1, the least square (LS)means estimates of the ZBPI ADL and EQ-5D utility scores were 2.970 and 0.740, respectively. Over three months follow-up, the pain scores decreased and the QoL increased monotonically across all age groups. At Day 90, the mean ZBPI worst pain score of the PHN patients was 4.4, while the LSmeans estimates of the ZBPI ADL and EQ-5D utility scores were 2.899 and 0.826, respectively. For patients with PHN persisting at nine months, the pain scores and QoL remained unchanged over the six months following the development of PHN.
conclusionHZ and PHN had a substantial impact on the patients' QoL and ability to function in their normal activities. There was a clear association in time between the evolution of pain and estimated QoL. The impact on ADL and QoL did not vary with age.
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