Epidemiology and risk factors of postherpetic neuralgia worldwide: protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) is a debilitating complication of herpes zoster (HZ) that significantly impairs quality of life, disrupting sleep, daily activities and work capacity. Globally, PHN represents a major public health challenge, with marked heterogeneity in its epidemiological patterns across different regions and demographic groups. The escalating incidence of both HZ and PHN underscores the urgent need to elucidate modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors, which is critical for implementing targeted prevention strategies and optimising therapeutic interventions. Although previous studies have examined PHN risk factors, there remains a paucity of comprehensive, up-to-date systematic analyses evaluating its global epidemiological trends and associated determ

SUBMITTER: Liao X 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12853507 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature