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Self-reported herpes zoster, pain, and health care seeking in the Health and Retirement Study: implications for interpretation of health care–based studies
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Apr 13 2016
Source: Ann Epidemiol. 26(6):441-446.e3.
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Alternative Title:Ann Epidemiol
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Description:Purpose
To describe self-reported herpes zoster (HZ) and explore factors that could impact interpretation of results from health care–based HZ studies.
Methods
We performed logistic regression using data from the 2008 Health and Retirement Study (HRS) to evaluate risk factors for having a history of HZ and experiencing severe HZ pain, and predictors for seeking health care for HZ.
Results
Among 14,564 respondents aged ≥55 years, women were more likely than men to report a history of HZ (15.7% vs. 11.6%, P < .01). Blacks (6.4% vs. 14.7% in whites, P < .01) and respondents with less than a high school diploma (12.2% vs.14.2% in respondents with at least a high school diploma, P = .01) were less likely to report a history of HZ. Women, blacks, Hispanics, and those with less than a high school diploma were more likely to report severe HZ pain. Most (91.1%) respondents sought health care for HZ; Hispanics (64.2% vs. 92.1% in whites, P < .001) and those with recurrent HZ were less likely to seek health care for HZ, whereas those with severe pain were more likely (95.4% vs. 87.9% in those without severe pain, P < .01).
Conclusions
HRS provides a new platform for studies of HZ, one which allowed us to uncover issues that warrant particular attention when interpreting results of health care–based studies.
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Pubmed ID:27180114
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Pubmed Central ID:PMC5719862
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