title: Herpes zoster is associated with herpes simplex and other infections in under 60 year-olds.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We assessed the association between herpes zoster (HZ) and herpes simplex (HS) occurrence whilst controlling for risk factors of HZ.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using a Belgian general practitioner network, a retrospective cohort study with 3736 HZ patients and 14,076 age-gender-practice matched controls was performed, covering over 1.5 million patient-years. Multiple logistic regression was used with HZ as outcome and several diagnoses (malignancy, depression, diabetes mellitus, auto-immune diseases, asthma, multiple sclerosis, HIV, fractures), medications (systemic corticosteroids, biologicals, vaccination), HS and other infections as variables.
  
  
  RESULTS
  HS was significantly associated with HZ for all analysed time intervals (up to five years) post HZ (OR of 3.51 [2.09 5.88] 95%CI one year post HZ) and to a lesser extent for time ranges pre HZ. Registration of other infections was significantly associated with HZ in all time intervals pre and post HZ (OR up to 1.37). Malignancy up to five years pre HZ, depression up to one year pre or post HZ, fractures up to two years pre HZ, asthma, auto-immune diseases, and immunosuppressive medication one year pre or post HZ were also associated with HZ.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  HZ and HS occurrences are significantly associated and potentially share a common susceptibility beyond the known risk factors.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Health Economics Research & Modeling Infectious Diseases (CHERMID), Vaccine & Infectious Disease Institute (VAXINFECTIO), University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium; Interuniversity Institute for Biostatistics and Statistical Bioinformatics (I-BIOSTAT), Hasselt University, Agoralaan Building D, 3590 Diepenbeek, Belgium. Electronic address: Benson.ogunjimi@uantwerp.be.
authors.forename: Benson
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ogunjimi
authors.affiliation: Department of General Practice and Intego Registry, Catholic University of Leuven, Kapucijnenvoer 33, Blok J, Bus 7001, 3000 Leuven, Belgium; Research Institute Caphri, University of Maastricht, Universiteitssingel 40, 6229 Maastricht, The Netherlands. Electronic address: frank.buntinx@med.kuleuven.be.
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Buntinx
authors.affiliation: Department of General Practice and Intego Registry, Catholic University of Leuven, Kapucijnenvoer 33, Blok J, Bus 7001, 3000 Leuven, Belgium. Electronic address: stefaan.bartholomeeusen@uantwerp.be.
authors.forename: Stephaan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bartholomeeusen
authors.affiliation: Centre for Health Economics Research & Modeling Infectious Diseases (CHERMID), Vaccine & Infectious Disease Institute (VAXINFECTIO), University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium. Electronic address: ita.terpstra@student.uantwerp.be.
authors.forename: Ita
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Terpstra
authors.affiliation: Centre for Health Economics Research & Modeling Infectious Diseases (CHERMID), Vaccine & Infectious Disease Institute (VAXINFECTIO), University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium. Electronic address: inke.dehaes@student.uantwerp.be.
authors.forename: Inke
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: De Haes
authors.affiliation: Centre for Health Economics Research & Modeling Infectious Diseases (CHERMID), Vaccine & Infectious Disease Institute (VAXINFECTIO), University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium. Electronic address: lander.willem@uantwerp.be.
authors.forename: Lander
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Willem
authors.affiliation: Department of General Practice and Intego Registry, Catholic University of Leuven, Kapucijnenvoer 33, Blok J, Bus 7001, 3000 Leuven, Belgium. Electronic address: steven.elli@med.kuleuven.be.
authors.forename: Steven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Elli
authors.affiliation: Centre for Health Economics Research & Modeling Infectious Diseases (CHERMID), Vaccine & Infectious Disease Institute (VAXINFECTIO), University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium. Electronic address: joke.bilcke@uantwerp.be.
authors.forename: Joke
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bilcke
authors.affiliation: Centre for the Evaluation of Vaccination (CEV), Vaccine & Infectious Disease Institute (VAXINFECTIO), University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium. Electronic address: pierre.vandamme@uantwerp.be.
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Van Damme
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Medical Microbiology, Vaccine & Infectious Disease Institute (VAXINFECTIO), University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium; Centre for General Practice, Vaccine & Infectious Disease Institute (VAXINFECTIO), University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium. Electronic address: samuel.coenen@uantwerp.be.
authors.forename: Samuel
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Coenen
authors.affiliation: Centre for Health Economics Research & Modeling Infectious Diseases (CHERMID), Vaccine & Infectious Disease Institute (VAXINFECTIO), University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium; School of Public Health and Community Medicine, The University of New South Wales, Level 3, Samuels Building Gate 11, Botany Street, 2052 Sydney, Australia. Electronic address: philippe.beutels@uantwerp.be.
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Beutels
mesh_terms: D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006561:Herpes Simplex / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006562:Herpes Zoster / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors
keywords: Herpes simplex; Herpes zoster; Influenza; Susceptibility