Closing the Gaps in Shingles Care: Vaccination, Coordination, and Equity

I thank you, Dr. Wong, and this section is on the burden of shingles or herpes zoster.

So let's begin with poll question number one, which states shingles is primarily a mild dermatologic condition with limited long-term impact.

So you should have your poll question responsibilities up there if you'll go ahead and enter your responses.

And indeed, false is the correct answer.

This is because many patients with SOSTER develop acute and chronic neurological pain and other complications that can have a prolonged negative impact on the quality of life.

All right, let's go on to poll question number two.

Which group is at highest risk for developing shingles or zoster? A, healthy adults under 30.

B, adults greater than 50 years and immunocompromised patients.

C, children with no prior illness.

And D, athletes with high physical activity.

Please enter your responses.

And then, wow, 100% of you chose adults greater than 50 and immunocompromised patients.

And of course, you're entirely right there.

Good on you.

That's because, as we know, increasing age and impaired cellular immunity are by far the strongest risk factors for disaster.

And then the risk goes up exponentially with age too.

I mean, the risk is three to four times higher in people over the age of 70 and 80 than it is in middle-aged adults.

And the risk is even higher than in immunocompromised individuals.

And among that group, hemopoietic stem cell and solid organ transplant recipients are a very high risk.

So that leads naturally to the main takeaways for the burden of zoster shingles here.

There's a high lifetime risk, it's about 30%.

So some adults think they're not ever gonna get shingles, but chances are pretty decent that you will.

And as we pointed out, particularly in older adults and immunocompromised patients.

And the reason for that has to do with a declining immunity in these different populations, right? The risk increases of age because of senescence, and obviously patients with immunosuppressive conditions.

And this can lead to significant complications, the worst of which, and the most feared by patients is post-hepatic neuralgia.