Herpesvirus reactivation and socioeconomic position: a community-based study.
BACKGROUND
Elevated antibodies to latent herpesviruses have been demonstrated to be a reliable marker of diminished cellular immunity and recently have been associated with low socioeconomic position (SEP) in older adults. Extending these observations in a community-based study over a wide age range would provide an important new direction for investigating mechanisms underlying poor health outcomes in individuals with low SEP.


METHODS
Anti-herpes simplex virus (HSV)-1 and anti-Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) antibodies were measured in blood samples from 1457 adults aged 25-90. Regression models were then used to determine the relationships between viral reactivation, age, gender, ethnicity and SEP.


RESULTS
Individuals were significantly more likely to have higher antiviral antibodies (ie, reactivation) to both EBV and HSV-1 than one virus alone. Individuals in the lowest age group had less reactivation, whereas greater reactivation was observed in women and those with the least education. Compared to white non-Hispanics, Hispanics and black non-Hispanics experienced more viral reactivation. These relationships remained strong after controlling for sociodemographic factors as well as smoking status, body mass index and physical activity.


CONCLUSIONS
These results demonstrate that herpesvirus reactivation is associated with variables such as age, gender, ethnicity and education, and may play a role in poorer health outcomes in both younger and older adults.
Stowe
Raymond P
RP
Microgen Laboratories, La Marque, TX 77568, USA. rpstowe@microgenlabs.com
Peek
M Kristen
MK
Perez
Norma A
NA
Yetman
Deborah L
DL
Cutchin
Malcolm P
MP
Goodwin
James S
JS
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D000917:Antibody Formation; D044383:Black People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004522:Educational Status; D020031:Epstein-Barr Virus Infections / Q000208:ethnology / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000191:economics*; D006561:Herpes Simplex / Q000208:ethnology / Q000276:immunology*; D018259:Herpesvirus 1, Human / Q000276:immunology*; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013781:Texas; D017735:Virus Latency; D044465:White People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D001741:Black or African American
D000914:Antibodies, Viral