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. 2024 Aug 26:17:1905-1915.
doi: 10.2147/CCID.S471823. eCollection 2024.

Impact of Herpes Zoster and Postherpetic Neuralgia on the Quality of Life in China: A Prospective Study

Yong Liu  1 , Hui Liu  2 , Queqiao Bian  1 , Shuhuan Zhang  1 , Yanmin Guan  3
Affiliations

Impact of Herpes Zoster and Postherpetic Neuralgia on the Quality of Life in China: A Prospective Study

Yong Liu et al. Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol. .

Abstract

Background: Herpes zoster (HZ) and postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) significantly affect patients' quality of life (QoL). Cultural differences may lead to different patient-reported outcomes across countries. The current study aims to evaluate the detrimental impact of HZ and PHN on QoL in China.

Methods: This prospective study was conducted from January 2020 to April 2023. We used the Zoster Brief Pain Inventory (ZBPI) and 5-level EuroQol-5 Dimension (EQ-5D-5L) questionnaire to assess the QoL of HZ and PHN patients. Patients were required to complete the questionnaires at 15, 30, 60, and 90 days after the onset of the HZ rash. Additional questionnaires were administered at 120, 150, and 180 days for those who developed PHN within three months of the rash's onset.

Results: A cohort of 633 patients with a median age of 63 years were included in the study. The mean delay from the appearance of the initial HZ rash to the first medical consultation was 5.1 ± 2.8 days. Approximately 30% of the HZ patients (189/633) went on to develop PHN. For patients with HZ who did not progress to PHN, the ZBPI worst pain score and impaired QoL had nearly resolved by day 90 post-rash onset. Conversely, there was no significant improvement in the ZBPI worst pain score and QoL for those with PHN, even by day 180 post-rash onset.

Conclusion: Both HZ and PHN significantly impaired patients' QoL. However, the impairment caused by PHN was more severe in both intensity and duration.

Keywords: herpes zoster; pain; post-herpetic neuralgia; quality of life.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Changes in the ZBPI worst pain score over time. The symbol and vertical bar represent the mean and standard deviation.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Changes in the ZBPI ADL scores over time. (A) Changes in the overall scores over time. (B) Changes in the general activity score over time. (C) Changes in the mood score over time. (D) Changes in the walking ability score over time. E. Changes in the normal work score over time. (F) Changes in the relations score over time. (G) Changes in the sleep score over time. (H) Changes in the enjoyment of life score over time. The ZBPI also assessed the impact of pain on the ADL, which includes seven items: general activity, mood, walking ability, work, relations with others, sleep, and enjoyment of life. The symbol and vertical bar represent the mean and standard deviation.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Changes in the EQ-5D utility and VAS scores over time. (A) Changes in the EQ-5D utility score over time. (B) Changes in the VAS score over time. The symbol and vertical bar represent the mean and standard deviation.
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