Preventing and managing herpes zoster: key actions to foster healthy aging

Abstract

Population aging is the demographic phenomenon characterizing all countries in the world, and it is challenging the national infrastructures, in particular health systems. However, aging itself is not associated with increased medical spending, but disability and comorbidity that affect older individuals are the actual drivers for health expenditures. Therefore, if people age in better health, medical spending may be significantly reduced. Preventative interventions proved to be effective in reducing/preventing disease and disability and often found to be cost effective, include diet and exercise interventions, medications, routine disease screenings, and immunizations. Vaccination can protect older citizens against life-threatening diseases, such as influenza, pneumococcal infections, tetanus, and against diseases which adversely impact their quality of life, such as herpes zoster (HZ). Including HZ vaccination in its citizens' lifetime immunization calendar can reinforce Europe's commitment toward active, healthy aging. This paper outlines the consensus statement of a group of Italian experts on HZ.

Herpes zoster vaccine: a shot to maintain wellbeing

“…Herpes zoster (HZ) vaccine [5][6][7], is the best example of such quality improvement vaccines. In this issue, Stefania Maggi and collaborators present a comprehensive and upto-date review of how the HZ vaccine improves healthy ageing [8]. This paper raises some questions concerning the global epidemiology of the disease, improved knowledge of HZ risk factors, the well-known and more surprising consequences of the disease, as well as the increasing dilemma about age and the new indications for the currently available vaccine.…”

“…In this issue, Stefania Maggi and collaborators present a comprehensive and upto-date review of how the HZ vaccine improves healthy ageing [8]. This paper raises some questions concerning the global epidemiology of the disease, improved knowledge of HZ risk factors, the well-known and more surprising consequences of the disease, as well as the increasing dilemma about age and the new indications for the currently available vaccine.The incidence rate (IR) of HZ in Italy, at 6.3 per thousand person-years [8,9], is higher than the mean incidence rate of 3-5 per thousand person-years reported in an analysis of 130 studies conducted in 26 countries in North America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific [10]. This could be related to a temporal increase in the incidence of HZ, often occurring before the introduction of varicella vaccination programmes [11], as in Finland [11] and Germany [12].…”

“…Prodromic pain was experienced by 69.5 % of South Korean patients, of whom 95.1 % had moderate-to-severe pain [14]. In Italy, postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) occurred in 20.6 and 9.2 % of HZ patients older than 50 years after 3 and 6 months respectively [8,15], which corresponds to the mean 6-month PHN risk reported in the world literature [16].The risk factors for HZ have recently been better identified, and Maggi's paper describes them in detail [8]. However, it is important to insist on a few of these factors.…”

“…The risk factors for HZ have recently been better identified, and Maggi's paper describes them in detail [8]. However, it is important to insist on a few of these factors.…”

“…The incidence rate (IR) of HZ in Italy, at 6.3 per thousand person-years [8,9], is higher than the mean incidence rate of 3-5 per thousand person-years reported in an analysis of 130 studies conducted in 26 countries in North America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific [10]. This could be related to a temporal increase in the incidence of HZ, often occurring before the introduction of varicella vaccination programmes [11], as in Finland [11] and Germany [12].…”