Incidence of herpes zoster and associated events including XXXX -a population-based cohort study.

@entity1 @entity14000 @entity295 @entity64
BACKGROUND: More detailed understanding of herpes zoster (HZ) is called for in the context of an increasing observed frequency of disease, and ongoing discussions regarding potential consequences of the disease. Thus, population-based data on incidence and complications of HZ are needed. METHODS: We conducted a register-based cohort study in V  stra G  taland County (population 1.5 million) in Sweden. We collected data on all @entity1 diagnosed with HZ during the years 2008 to 2010 from population-based registers. Incidence rates (IR) of HZ and related complications were calculated and stratified by age and sex. RESULTS: There were 13 269 new HZ cases during the study period. Overall, the IR of herpes zoster in both genders was 3.25 (95  % CI: 3.16-3.34) per 1000 @entity1 years in 2010. The incidence was consistently higher in @entity1 than in @entity1 and in older than in young. A history of immunosuppression was more common than in the general population. The incidence was highest in individuals over 80  years of age (IR 9.2 per 1000 @entity1 years, 95  % CI: 8.8-9.6) during 2008-2010. The most common complications to HZ were ocular engagement and @entity14000 ; risks for @entity64 and @entity295 were significantly elevated during the one year following diagnosis, especially in the youngest age group of @entity1 0-39 years. CONCLUSIONS: Herpes zoster is more common in @entity1 , the elderly and immunosuppressed individuals. We verify a population-based association between herpes zoster and risk for @entity64 and @entity295 , which may merit concern.
