Herpes Zoster after COVID-19 Infection or Vaccination: A Prospective Cohort Study in a Tertiary Dermatology Clinic
Table 1
Comparison between herpes zoster patients with and without a history of recent COVID-19 infection or vaccination within 2 weeks.
Demographic data
Herpes zoster cases without a recent history of COVID-19 vaccination or infection N/total (%) (N = 205)
Herpes zoster cases with a recent history of COVID-19 vaccination or infection
value†
Total N/total (%) (N = 27)
Cases with only a recent history of COVID-19 vaccination N/total (%) (N = 23)
Cases with only a recent history of COVID-19 infection N/total (%) (N = 4)
Sex
Male
89 (43.4)
6 (22.2)
5 (21.7)
1 (25.0)
0.035
Female
116 (56.6)
21 (77.8)
18 (78.3)
3 (75.0)
Median age (IQR) (years)
62 (46.0, 70.5)
62 (38.0, 70.0)
64.0 (58.0, 70.0)
42.5 (36.3, 58.5)
0.981
Immunological status
Immunocompromised
58 (28.3)
5 (18.5)
4 (17.4)
1 (25.0)
0.283
Immunocompetent
147 (71.7)
22 (81.5)
19 (82.6)
3 (75.0)
Median pain score at first visit (IQR)
5 (2.0, 7.0)
4 (2.0, 6.5)
5.0 ± 3.0
4.0 ± 2.9
0.443
Clinical presentation
Dissemination
6 (2.9)
2 (7.4)
2 (8.7)
0
0.282
Eye involvement
7 (3.4)
1 (3.7)
1 (4.3)
0
1.000
Median duration to crust-off (IQR) (days)
13 (9.0, 18.0)
15.5 (10.8, 21.0)
14.5 (10.8, 21.0)
19.0 (10.0, 34.0)
0.085
Outcomes of healing (N = 223)
N = 197
N = 26
N = 22
N = 4
Normal skin
50 (25.4)
10 (38.5)
10 (45.5)
0
0.157
Nonnormal skin
147 (74.6)
16 (61.5)
12 (54.5)
4 (100.0)
(i) Hypopigmented lesions
28/147 (19.0)
1/16 (6.3)
1/12 (8.3)
0
0.096
(ii) Hyperpigmented lesions
100/147 (68.0)
10/16 (62.5)
7/12 (58.3)
3/4 (75.0)
(iii) Scars
19/147 (12.9)
5/16 (31.3)
4/12 (33.3)
1/4 (25.0)
Median duration of postherpetic neuralgia (IQR) (days)
36.0 (14.5, 46.5)
24.5 (12.0, 39.5)
24.5 (12.0, 39.5)
30.5 (14.5, 42.8)
0.170
Postherpetic neuralgia (pain ≥3 months after onset)
18/187 (9.6)
1/25 (4)
1/21 (4.8)
0
0.707
Statistical value less than 0.05 indicates statistical significance. †The value was derived from statistical analysis comparing herpes zoster cases without a recent history of COVID-19 vaccination or infection (N = 205) to herpes zoster cases with a recent history of COVID-19 vaccination or infection (N = 27).
