Herpes zoster risk after 21 specific cancers: population-based case-control study

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Infectious Diseases
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Some cancers are linked to higher herpes zoster (shingles) risk.
• Limited data exists on how cancer site, time since diagnosis, and age affect this association.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between specific cancer types and subsequent herpes zoster risk.
• To examine how this risk varies by cancer site, time since diagnosis, and patient age.

Main Methods:

• A large case-control study using the Clinical Practice Research Datalink (CPRD) primary care database.
• Conditional logistic regression analysis of 192,081 zoster patients and 732,035 controls.
• Adjustments for comorbidities and confounders, with investigation of age and time since diagnosis effects.

Main Results:

• Malignancy overall showed a 29% increased zoster risk (OR 1.29).
• Hematological malignancies presented the highest risk (OR 2.46).
• Specific cancers including lung, breast, and lymphoma were linked to increased zoster odds, with risk highest within 2 years post-diagnosis and decreasing with older age.

Conclusions:

• Several cancers significantly elevate herpes zoster risk, particularly in the initial two years post-diagnosis and in younger individuals.
• This knowledge supports earlier antiviral treatment initiation for zoster in cancer patients.
• Further evaluation of early zoster vaccination benefits for cancer patients is recommended.