Analysis of the Risk Factors for Postherpetic Neuralgia

Abstract

Background: Postherpetic neuralgia is the most common complication of herpes zoster, affecting 30% of patients. It seriously affects the quality of life of patients and the curative effect of treatment is limited. So far, researchers do not fully understand the risk factors for postherpetic neuralgia and more research is needed. Objective: The aim of this paper was to investigate the risk factors for postherpetic neuralgia and provide reference for clinical diagnosis and treatment. Methods: A total of 202 inpatients with herpes zoster in the General Hospital of Tianjin Medical University were recruited as study subjects. According to the occurrence of postherpetic neuralgia, the patients were divided into the postherpetic neuralgia group and the nonpostherpetic neuralgia group. Data on age, gender, initial symptoms, clinical classification, involved nerves, pain grading, antiviral therapy, glucocorticoid use, and other clinical data of patients in the two groups were collected and statistically analyzed. Univariate and multivariate analysis methods were used to analyze the differences between the two groups and determine the influencing factors of postherpetic neuralgia. Results: The univariate statistical analysis of the factors influencing postherpetic neuralgia showed that the contribution of gender, initial symptoms, general clinical classification, use of glucocorticoid, and the interval from onset to antiviral therapy were not statistically significant, while the differences in age, specific clinical classification, involved nerves, severity of pain during the acute stage, and body side of skin lesion distribution were statistically significant. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that gender, use of glucocorticoid, interval from onset to antiviral therapy, involved nerves, and specific clinical classification showed no statistical significance. However, there were significant differences in age, body side of skin lesion distribution, general clinical classification, and degree of pain during the acute stage of the disease. Conclusion: Pain during the acute stage of herpes zoster, age greater than 70 years, and serious type of skin lesion are risk factors for postherpetic neuralgia (p < 0.05, OR >1).