Patients With Inflammatory Bowel Disease Are at Increased Risk for Complications of Herpes Zoster

Patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are at an increased risk for vaccine-preventable diseases, such as herpes zoster (HZ). The aim of this study was to determine whether complications of HZ are more frequent in patients with IBD than in non-IBD controls.

This was a retrospective, cohort study using the Optum Research Database. Patients with IBD were matched 1:1 to non-IBD controls based on age, sex, and index year, which was defined as the diagnosis of HZ. We then identified the complications of HZ that occurred up to 90 days after the index date. We compared patients with IBD with non-IBD controls and evaluated the 90-day risk of HZ complications. We used a composite primary outcome for any HZ complication. Secondary outcomes were risk factors for complications.

A total of 4756 patients with IBD met the inclusion criteria and were matched to the controls. Patients with IBD were more likely to have complications of HZ than controls (738 [15.52%] vs 595 [12.51%]; P < .0001). Patients with IBD with higher comorbidity scores were more likely to develop complications (1.86 vs 1.18; P < .0001). In the logistic regression analysis of patients with IBD having a higher comorbidity score, above 50 years of age, on anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) or corticosteroids were all at increased risk of a complication of HZ.

Patients with IBD are more likely to have complications of HZ than controls. Efforts are needed to increase HZ vaccine uptake to reduce the morbidity of HZ.