Study finds 86% of adults underestimate the risk and potential severity of shingles

86 percent of adults are unaware of the risk and potential severity of shingles, a quarter (26%) believe 1 in 100 people are at risk of getting shingles in their lifetime, almost a fifth. Some (17%) think it’s 1 in 1,000, and almost half (49%) think it’s unlikely they’ll develop shingles. These are some of the findings from a GSK-sponsored survey of 3,500 adults over 50 in 12 countries, which assessed participants’ knowledge about herpes zoster, also known as “shingles”, its triggers and impact on people’s lives. In fact, it is estimated that 1 in 3 people between the ages of 50 and 90 will have an episode of shingles during their lifetime. This is because shingles is caused by the reactivation of the varicella zoster virus, the same virus that causes chickenpox and is usually contracted during childhood. As they age, their immune system weakens (called immunosenescence) and loses its ability to keep the virus under control; which increases the likelihood of contracting shingles. It also occurs in people who have weakened immune systems due to certain medical conditions or treatments. The survey results also show a lack of awareness about the pain that shingles can cause. The disease usually manifests as blisters, which can be painful and most often affect the chest, face and head; It is often described as a burning, tingling or electric shock sensation2. However, 1 in 10 adults surveyed do not know the most common symptoms of shingles, and more than a quarter (28%) believe the disease is “harmless.” When pain persists after the shingles rash has healed, postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) may occur, a chronic nerve pain that can persist for weeks, months, or even years. NPH is the most common complication of herpes zoster, affecting up to 1 in 10 people. The results of this survey were presented as part of Shingles Awareness Week, which GSK, in collaboration with the International Federation on Aging (IFA), is launching for another year from 26 February 2024 to 3 March. “These results show a clear need to strengthen our educational efforts about the risk and impact of herpes zoster. As global advocates for the aging population, we are proud to contribute to this global effort to raise awareness of herpes zoster and help adults understand the risks and complications associated with this painful disease,” says Roxana Biadei, IFA Policy and Advocacy Program Manager . The survey also examined what media participants use to obtain information related to their health: more than 40% regularly use social networks such as Facebook and Instagram, and almost a third use Internet browsers such as Google at least one once a week to receive this information. type of information compared to the frequency with which they visit their doctors3. “Although Spain did not participate in this survey, the data largely reflect the reality that health professionals in our country face in consultations,” says Dr. Raquel Alfaro, specialist in family and community medicine of the Andalusian Health Service and secretary of the Working Group on Infectious Diseases. Migrants, Vaccines and Prevention (IMVAP) SEMERGEN. “Herpes zoster can cause complications of varying severity: from complications such as superinfection of lesions, to complications at the nervous system level such as stroke, deafness, damage to nerve fibers… the most common complication is postherpetic neuralgia, which occurs in 10% patients suffering from herpes zoster, and among them, it may appear in 50% of patients over 60 years of age and in 75% of patients over 70 years of age,” he adds. And he comments that “suffering from herpes zoster does not mean immunity from recurrence of the disease.” Finally, remember that “we are living longer and longer, and we have managed to make many diseases chronic thanks to scientific advances. The role of primary care is also to help our patients live fuller and longer lives, not just through therapeutic or curative means, but the desire for the best quality of life and promotion of a healthy lifestyle.