Abstract
Background: Herpes zoster (HZ) is strongly associated with decreased immune function, a factor of cancer development. Previous studies suggested inconsistent results regarding the association between HZ and increased cancer risk. We aimed to analyze the association between HZ and specific cancer risk. Methods: Of 134,454 patients diagnosed with HZ between 2002 and 2015, 81,993 HZ patients were matched 1:1 with non-HZ individuals by age, sex, and Charlson comorbidity index. Both groups were examined at 1, 3, and 5 years for cancer diagnosis. A Cox proportional hazard regression model was used to estimate cancer risk in both groups. The postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) and non-HZ groups were compared for specific cancer risk. Results: The HZ group showed a slightly decreased overall cancer risk compared with the non-HZ group (hazard ratio [HR] 0.94, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.90–0.97, p = 0.002). The HRs for specific cancer risk were 0.41 (95% CI, 0.33–0.50, p < 0.001); 0.86 (95% CI, 0.81–0.91, p < 0.001); 0.87 (95% CI, 0.78–0.97, p = 0.014); 0.80 (95% CI 0.73–0.87, p < 0.001); 1.20 (95% CI, 1.07–1.34, p = 0.001); and 1.66 (95% CI, 1.35–2.03, p < 0.001) for cancers of the lips, mouth, and pharynx; digestive system; respiratory system; unknown secondary and unspecified sites; thyroid and endocrine glands; and lymphoid and hematopoietic systems, respectively. The HZ with PHN group showed higher HR for specific cancer risk, such as lymphoid and hematopoietic systems (95% CI, 1.27–2.39, p < 0.001). Conclusion: HZ was associated with increased or decreased incidence of specific cancers. PHN further increased the risk of developing certain cancers in HZ patients.
Highlights
Herpes zoster (HZ) is a viral disease that occurs due to the reactivation of varicellazoster virus (VZV) when a person’s immunity decreases; it is accompanied by a painful skin rash with blisters [1]
Among the total 1,108,369 patients enrolled in the database, we identified those with first-ever diagnosis of HZ and first-ever diagnosis of cancer using the relevant diagnostic codes of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD) 10th revision (ICD-10)
These results suggest that HZ and postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) were associated with the development of certain cancers
Summary
Herpes zoster (HZ) is a viral disease that occurs due to the reactivation of varicellazoster virus (VZV) when a person’s immunity decreases; it is accompanied by a painful skin rash with blisters [1]. HZ is strongly associated with decreased immune function [6,7], which is a factor involved in the development of such cancers as melanoma and bladder cancer These cancers are more likely to occur in patients infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and transplant recipients [8,9]. In. Herpes zoster (HZ) is strongly associated with decreased immune function, a factor of cancer development. Previous studies suggested inconsistent results regarding the association between HZ and increased cancer risk. Methods: Of 134,454 patients diagnosed with HZ between 2002 and 2015, 81,993 HZ patients were matched 1:1 with non-HZ individuals by age, sex, and Charlson comorbidity index Both groups were examined at 1, 3, and 5 years for cancer diagnosis.
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