A population-based study of social demographic factors, associated diseases, and herpes zoster ophthalmicus in Taiwan

Chia-Yi Lee ¹ Yuh-Shin Chang ¹ Chung-Han Ho ¹ Jhi-Joung Wang ¹ Han-Yi Jan ² Po- Han Lee ³ Ren-Long Jan ^4*

• ¹ Chi Mei Medical Center, Tainan, Taiwan
• ² Tzu Chi University, Hualien City, Taiwan
• ³ Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
• ⁴ Chi Mei Medical Center, Liouying, Tainan, Taiwan

This study investigated the association between herpes zoster ophthalmicus (HZO), sociodemographic factors, and associated systemic diseases. This nationwide, population-based, retrospective, matched case-controlled study included 52,112 patients with HZO (identified by the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification code 053.2 for herpes zoster with ophthalmic complications) from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database. The age-, sex-, and index date-matched control group included 52,112 non-HZO individuals from the Taiwan Longitudinal Health Insurance Database 2000. Sociodemographic factors and associated systemic diseases were examined using univariate logistic regression analyses, and continuous variables were analysed using paired t-tests. The odds ratios (ORs) for developing HZO were compared using adjusted logistic regression analysis. Patients with systemic diseases (hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidaemia, etc.) had significantly higher ORs for HZO development. Patients whose monthly income was >NT$ 30,000 and patients residing in southern Taiwan had increased odds of developing HZO; however, patients residing in northern Taiwan, metropolitans, or satellite cities, and being public servants (military, civil, teaching staff, etc.) had decreased odds of developing HZO. HZO is strongly associated with hypertension, diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidaemia, coronary artery disease, chronic renal disease, and human immunodeficiency virus infection. These findings emphasise the role of systemic health in HZO risk.