Herpes zoster (shingles) at a large New Zealand general practice: incidence over 5 years

The objective of this study, in a large group practice in Lower Hutt with a stable population of around 19,000 patients, was to describe the retrospective incidence of shingles over a 5-year period so that it could be compared to international data.

The practice database was interrogated for patients whose disease code indicated they suffered shingles, herpes zoster, or post herpetic neuralgia between January 1 2009 and December 31 2013. The charts of the identified patients were reviewed to assess whether the diagnosis was confirmed, to ascertain that onset occurred within the specified time period, to describe the site of the rash and the age, sex and ethnicity of the patients. Rates of disease were calculated using a denominator derived from a comparison of patients registered during the 5 years studied.

The results indicate that incidence of shingles rose with age, females were more frequently affected than males and that the thorax was the commonest site.

The incidence at this New Zealand medical centre was similar to that reported internationally.