Chronic medical conditions as risk factors for herpes zoster.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

To determine the degree to which chronic conditions might contribute to the unexplained burden of herpes zoster.

Methods

We conducted a case-control study using MarketScan data from January 1, 2007, through December 31, 2007, to investigate chronic conditions as risk factors for herpes zoster among persons 20 to 64 years old. Cases were enrollees with a herpes zoster diagnosis (International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification codes 053.xx), and controls were those without a herpes zoster diagnosis, matched by age groups and insurance plan. We selected 10 chronic conditions based on their prevalence in the general population. We calculated the attributable fraction and created a comorbidity composite score by summing the significant co

SUBMITTER: Joesoef RM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3538398 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature