ReviewCanadian geriatrics journal : CGJ2026
Herpes Zoster and Frailty in Older Adults: a Systematic Review.
Review in Canadian geriatrics journal : CGJ, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.
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.
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
1 citing paper in PubMed.
- Varicella-zoster virus infection: a review about varicella and herpes zoster.Anais brasileiros de dermatologiaReview
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
3 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Background: Herpes zoster (HZ) and its complications, postherpetic neuralgia (PHN), are common in adults, particularly the frail. Frailty may affect infection outcomes and vaccine efficacy. This study evaluated the association between frailty and HZ/PHN risk, and examined vaccine uptake, immunogenicity, and efficacy in frail versus non-frail individuals. Methods: We systematically reviewed PubMed/MEDLINE, the Cochrane Library, Embase, and grey literature for studies published from January 2015 to January 2025. Eligible studies included observational and randomized controlled trials evaluating frailty in adults aged ≥50 years and reporting HZ incidence, severity, PHN, or vaccination. Two reviewers independently selected studies, extracted data using a standardized form, and assessed quality using JBI tools. Due to heterogeneity, data were synthesized narratively. Results: Eight studies met the inclusion criteria, with a sample size exceeding 15,000 participants. Two studies identified an association between frailty and an increased incidence of HZ, while two others indicated an elevated risk of PHN among frail individuals. One study highlighted low vaccine uptake in a frail Italian cohort. Three studies assessed the immunogenicity of the zoster vaccine, suggesting that although absolute immune responses may be diminished in frail individuals, relative responses are often maintained. A pooled analysis of recombinant zoster vaccine trials demonstrated consistently high efficacy (exceeding 90%) across all frailty levels. Conclusions: Frailty may increase vulnerability to HZ and PHN. Routine frailty assessment may improve vaccine uptake and prevention. Further longitudinal studies using standardized frailty measures are needed to understand the causal pathways and optimize care.
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What OpenQuestion holds
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.