{Reference Type}: Journal Article
{Title}: Increased Risk of Herpes Zoster Infection in Patients with Celiac Disease 50 Years Old and Older.
{Author}: Chatterjee A;Chittajallu V;Ford A;Alchirazi KA;Nanah R;Mansoor E;DeLozier S;Jansson-Knodell C;Rubio-Tapia A;
{Journal}: Dig Dis Sci
{Volume}: 69
{Issue}: 8
{Year}: 2024 Aug 30
{Factor}: 3.487
{DOI}: 10.1007/s10620-024-08487-6
{Abstract}: BACKGROUND: Celiac Disease (CD) is associated with increased susceptibility to certain bacterial and viral infections. Herpes zoster (HZ) is a viral infection that can be prevented by immunization. In the US, the vaccine is recommended for adults ≥ 50 or ≥ 19 with certain at-risk conditions, not including CD.
OBJECTIVE: We aimed to determine if adult patients aged < 50 or ≥ 50 years with CD had a higher risk of developing HZ.
METHODS: We designed a retrospective cohort study. CD was defined as patients with the ICD-10 code for CD and positive Celiac serology. Patients with negative serology and lacking CD ICD-10 codes served as controls. Patients who had HZ before CD diagnosis were excluded. We formed two sub-cohorts, those aged < 50 (cohort 1) and aged ≥ 50 years (cohort 2), and evaluated HZ infection at 10-year follow-up. To account for confounding variables, we performed 1:1 propensity score matching (PSM).
RESULTS: Following PSM, cohort 1 had 6,826 CD patients, and cohort 2 had 5,337 CD patients and respective matched controls. After ten years of follow-up, in cohort 1, 62 CD patients developed HZ versus 57 controls, RR: 1.09 (CI: 0.76-1.56, p-value = 0.64). In cohort 2, 200 CD patients developed HZ versus 159 controls, RR: 1.2 (CI: 1.02-1.54, p-value = 0.03).
CONCLUSIONS: There was no significant difference in the likelihood of getting HZ in CD patients < 50, although CD patients ≥ 50 had a modestly increased risk. Our findings do not support routine early vaccination for HZ in CD, and the vaccine should be offered at age 50.