ArticleInfectious diseases and therapy2026
Rising Burden of Herpes Zoster among General Adults and Increased-Risk Groups in Eastern China, 2015-2021: A Population-Based Cohort Study.
Article in Infectious diseases and therapy, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. An erratum has been issued. Cited by 1 paper, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
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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.
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Who cites it
1 citing paper in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.
- 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
Corrections and comments
- Erratum issued
Authors and funding
9 authors.
Funding
Abstract
introductionThis study aims to deliver contemporary, population-based estimates of herpes zoster (HZ) incidence, temporal trends, complications, healthcare utilisation and direct costs among general adults and adults with increased-risk conditions.
methodsA retrospective cohort study using the Yinzhou Integrated Health Platform (2015-2021; China) was performed. Incident HZ was ascertained after a 1-year washout; increased-risk conditions were pre-specified (immunocompromising/autoimmune). We calculated age-/sex-standardised incidence, assessed trends with joinpoint regression and summarised HZ-related outpatient visits, hospitalisations and direct medical costs [Chinese yuan (¥) and US dollars ($)].
resultsAmong 5.42 million person-years, including 790,410 subjects, 25,855 incident HZ events were identified. Overall incidence was 4.77/1000 person-years (PY) [95% confidence interval (CI) 4.71-4.83] and 16.13/1000 PY (95% CI 15.25-17.06) in increased-risk adults [incidence rate ratio (IRR) 3.44 versus in adults without immunocompromising conditions or autoimmune diseases (AIDs)]. Incidence rose with age (peak 70-79 years overall; 60-69 years increased-risk) and was higher in women. Postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) was the most frequent complication (8.96% overall; 10.88% increased-risk). Standardised incidence increased from 4.67 to 7.51/1000 PY during 2015-2021 [annual percentage change (APC) 7.94%], with a steep rise to 2019 and plateau thereafter. Hospitalisation among incident HZ was 1.35%. Mean direct cost per episode was Chinese yuan (¥)625.52 [US dollars ($)94.35] for outpatients and ¥8854.03 ($1335.45) for inpatients; increased-risk outpatients incurred higher mean costs (¥1205.47, $181.82). Across strata, complications - especially PHN - were associated with more visits and higher expenditure.
conclusionsHZ imposes a rising, age- and risk-concentrated burden in Chinese adults, with PHN being the principal driver of resource use and costs. These real-world estimates support prioritising zoster vaccination for adults ≥ 50 years and clinically vulnerable groups, and integrating HZ surveillance and management within chronic-disease programmes.
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