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Burden of herpes zoster (shingles) among adults in England with an immunocompromising or chronic condition

Adults with immunocompromising or chronic conditions face a high burden of shingles, which increases with age

Watch a video summary of this study from Professor Azeem Majeed, Professor of Primary Care and Public Health at Imperial College London.

Insights from a large (N=29,292,141) retrospective cohort study of adults in England1-3

Icon/illustration of a hospital Icon/illustration of a hospital

A study in England by Yanni et al. investigated shingles incidence in adults with 16 immunocompromising conditions using Clinical Practice Research Datalink (CPRD) and Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) databases (January 2000–March 2012). The overall shingles incidence rate was higher in adults with immunocompromising conditions (7.8 per 1,000 person-years [PY]; 95% confidence interval [CI], 7.7–7.9 ) than in those without (6.2 per 1,000 PY; 95% CI, 6.1–6.3), highlighting an elevated burden in these vulnerable groups.4

The retrospective cohort study presented here aimed to provide up-to-date data on the burden of shingles faced by these at-risk groups and others. The primary objective was to estimate the annual incidence rate from 2012 to 2019 and the overall incidence rate in adults with immunocompromising conditions.1

Secondary objectives included estimating the annual (2012–2019) and overall shingles incidence rates in adults with certain chronic conditions, as well as adults without immunocompromising conditions, and adults without both immunocompromising or chronic conditions.2

  • This retrospective cohort study used electronic medical record (EMR) data from CPRD, with linkage to HES and the Office for National Statistics in England
  • Adults with a CPRD-HES database record of conditions of interest and who met the patient eligibility criteria were identified from 2012 to 2018 and followed up until 31 December 2019
  • Patients were followed up from index date (diagnosis of immunocompromising or chronic condition or registration in the CPRD) until the earliest of death, study end, transfer out of GP practice, last data collection at GP practice, or vaccination with the live zoster vaccine (ZVL) or recombinant zoster vaccine (RZV)

Study design1

Figure showing the study design

*Patients were followed up from the index date until the earliest of the following dates: death, transfer out of the GP practice, last data collection in the GP practice, HZ vaccination, 31 December 2019.

Figure adapted from Mahmood A, et al. Poster presented at ESCMID Global 2025.

Those with immunocompromising conditions had at least one recorded CPRD code for:

  • Haematological malignancies (including leukaemia, lymphoma, myeloma)
  • Haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT)
  • Solid organ transplant (SOT)
  • Solid organ malignancies (SOM)
  • Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
  • Autoimmune diseases (including autoimmune thyroiditis [AT], inflammatory bowel disease [IBD], rheumatoid arthritis [RA], multiple sclerosis [MS], psoriasis/psoriatic arthritis, polymyalgia rheumatica [PR], systemic lupus erythematosus [SLE])

Those with chronic conditions had at least one recorded CPRD MedCode and/or ICD-10 code for:

  • Asthma
  • Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
  • Chronic kidney disease (CKD) (including end-stage renal disease and dialysis patients)
  • Diabetes mellitus
  • Coronary artery disease
  • Heart failure
  • Chronic liver disease
  • Depression and/or anxiety

The gender distribution, mean age in each age group, and mean follow-up are presented below:

Baseline characteristics

 

Immunocompromising conditions

(N=1,764,900)

Immunocompromising condition free

(N=12,867,750)

Chronic condition

(N=6,423,633)

Immunocompromising and chronic condition free

(N=8,235,858)

Gender, n (%) Female 984,454 (55.78) 6,471,755 (50.29) 3,488,236 (54.30) 3,893,079 (47.27)
Male 780,446 (44.22) 6,395,955 (49.71)
2,935,397 (45.70) 4,342,779 (52.73)
Age group (years) at index data, n (%) 18–49 years​ 605,856 (34.33) 9,232,133 (71.75) 3,562,279 (55.46) 6,468,194 (78.54)
50–59 years​ 301,263 (17.07) 1,511,801 (11.75) 936,607 (14.58) 859,970 (10.44)
60–64 years​ 174,723 (9.90) 607,755 (4.72) 437,108 (6.80) 315,190 (3.83)
65–69 years​ 186,480 (10.57) 497,503 (3.87) 409,646 (6.38) 236,392 (2.87)
70–79 years​ 277,394 (15.72) 604,817 (4.70) 589,487 (9.18) 236,776 (2.87)
≥80 years​ 219,184 (12.42) 413,741 (3.22) 488,506 (7.60) 119,336 (1.45)
Time from population index date to end of follow-up (years) Mean (SD)​ 4.23 (2.86) 4.33 (2.93)​ 4.36 (2.88) 3.91 (2.86)

Findings

Incidence rates of shingles in adults with immunocompromising conditions increase with age and are reasonably stable over time1

Annual shingles incidence rates in adults with immunocompromising conditions by age group (2012–2019)1

Figure showing the annual shingles incidence rates per 1000 person years in adults with immunocompromising conditions by age group (2012-2019)

Figure adapted from Mahmood A, et al. Poster presented at ESCMID Global 2025.

The study’s main finding was that shingles incidence rates in adults with immunocompromising conditions increased with age and were reasonably stable over time.1 Across the entire study period, women with immunocompromising conditions had consistently higher overall incidence rates than men (8.19 [95% CI, 8.11–8.28] vs 6.55 [95% CI, 6.46–6.64] per 1,000 PY).1 A similar trend was seen in the immunocompromising condition-free group (women, 4.04 [95% CI, 4.01–4.06] vs men, 2.67 [95% CI, 2.65–2.69] per 1,000 PY).5

Shingles incidence rates are higher in adults with immunocompromising conditions than in those without in all age groups1, 5

Shingles incidence rates by age group in adults with and without immunocompromising conditions across the entire study period5

Graph showing shingles incidence rates per 1000 person years by age group in adults with and without immunocompromising conditions (2012-2019)
Icon/illustration of a person in pain Icon/illustration of a person in pain

Across all age groups, a higher proportion of adults with immunocompromising conditions experienced postherpetic neuralgia compared with adults without immunocompromising conditions.6

Shingles incidence rate varies by immunocompromising condition1

Shingles incidence rates by first immunocompromising condition across the entire study period1, 5

Graph showing shingles incidence rates per 1000 person years by first immunocompromising condition (2012-2019)

Figure adapted from Mahmood A, et al. Poster presented at ESCMID Global 2025.

Reported shingles incidence rates for the entire study period were high across immunocompromising conditions and highest in adults with the following conditions:1

  • Haematological malignancies (13.32 per 1,000 PY), followed by:
  • Polymyalgia rheumatica (12.15 per 1,000 PY)
  • Solid organ transplant (10.70 per 1,000 PY)
  • Systemic lupus erythematosus (10.19 per 1,000 PY)

For the entire study period, the incidence rate of shingles in adults with any immunocompromising condition of interest was 7.49 per 1,000 PY (95% CI, 7.43–7.55), compared with 3.33 per 1,000 PY (95% CI, 3.31–3.34) in adults without immunocompromising conditions.1

Incidence rates of shingles in adults with chronic conditions increase with age and are reasonably stable over time2

Annual shingles incidence rates in adults with at least one chronic condition by age group2

Graph showing annual incidence rates from 2012-2019 per 1000 person years in adults with at least once chronic condition by age group

Figure adapted from Mahmood A, et al. Poster presented at RCGP 2025.

Another key finding of the study was that shingles incidence rates in adults with chronic conditions increased with age and were stable over time. Women with at least one chronic condition had consistently higher incidence rates than men (5.88 [95% CI: 5.85–5.92] vs 4.30 [4.26–4.34] per 1,000 PY).2

The incidence rate of shingles varies by chronic condition2

Shingles incidence rates by first chronic condition across the entire study period2

Graph showing shingles incidence rates per 1000 person years by first chronic condition across the entire study period

Figure adapted from Mahmood A, et al. Poster presented at RCGP 2025.

The overall incidence rate of shingles in adults with at least one chronic condition across the entire study period was 5.16 per 1,000 PY (95% CI: 5.14–5.19) compared with 2.47 per 1,000 PY (95% CI: 2.45–2.49) in adults without any chronic or immunocompromising condition.2

Reported overall shingles incidence rates were highest in adults with CKD, COPD, heart failure and coronary artery disease.2

Dive deeper with charts on shingles incidence rates in specific immunocompromising and chronic conditions1, 2

The incidence rate of shingles in adults with CKD, haematological malignancies and certain cardiovascular conditions was high, increased with age and remained consistent over time.1-3, 7

  • CKD

    Shingles incidence rates in adults with CKD by age group across the entire study period2

    Graph showing shingles incidence rates per 1000 person years in adults with CKD by age group across the entire study period

    Figure adapted from Mahmood A, et al. Poster presented at RCGP 2025.

    Adults with CKD aged 18–49, 50–59 and 60–64 years had higher reported overall shingles incidence rates compared with adults with other chronic condition in the same age ranges.2
  • Shingles incidence rates in adults with haematological malignancies by age group across the entire study period3

    Graph showing shingles incidence rates per 1000 person years in adults with haematological malignancies by age group across the entire study period

    Figure adapted from Parry H, et al. Poster presented at BSH 2025.

    Of the immunocompromising conditions of interest, shingles incidence rates were highest in adults with haematological malignancies.3
  • Shingles incidence rates in adults with at least one chronic condition, adults with coronary artery disease or heart failure, and adults without chronic or immunocompromising conditions, by age group across the entire study period7

    Graph showing shingles incidence rates per 1000 person years in adults with at least one chronic condition, adults with coronary heart disease or heart failure and adults without chronic or immunocompromising conditions, by age group across the entire study period

    Figure adapted from Mahmood A, et al. Poster presented at BCS 2025.

    Adults with coronary artery disease or heart failure had higher shingles incidence rates than adults with no chronic or immunocompromising condition.7

Dive deeper with more detailed reference tables on shingles incidence rates

  • Full breakdown by age group for each immunocompromising condition

    Although the incidence rate of shingles increases with age, rates in younger adults with certain immunocompromising conditions are comparable to those in older adults with other immunocompromising conditions.1 For example, the shingles incidence rate was 11.62 (95% CI: 10.66–12.64) in adults aged 50–59 with haematological malignancies and 11.65 (95% CI: 11.34–11.97) in those aged ≥80 years with solid organ malignancies.1

    Shingles incidence rates by age group and first immunocompromising condition across the entire study period1

     

    Incidence rates of shingles per 1,000 person-years

    (95% confidence interval)

    Overall

    18–49 years

    50–59 years

    60–64 years 65–69 years 70–79 years ≥80 years

    7.49

    (7.43–7.55)

    3.34

    (3.26–3.42)

    6.23

    (6.10–6.36)

    8.02

    (7.82–8.22)

    8.91

    (8.71–9.11)

    11.82

    (11.62–12.03)

    12.58

    (12.34–12.81)

    Haematological malignancies

    (n=74,197; 4.20%)

    13.32

    (12.90–13.76)

    5.70

    (5.13–6.32)

    11.62

    (10.66–12.64)

    15.32

    (13.92–16.81)

    16.58

    (15.28–17.95)

    16.89

    (15.86–17.97)

    17.21

    (16.01–18.46)

    Polymyalgia rheumatica

    (n=77,996; 4.42%)

    12.15

    (11.75–12.55)

    4.91

    (3.11–7.24)

    7.04
    (5.83–8.39)

    9.09

    (7.81–10.49)

    9.42

    (8.44–10.47)

    12.65

    (11.92–13.40)

    13.93

    (13.30–14.58)

    Solid organ transplant

    (n=19,416; 1.10%)

    10.70

    (9.99–11.45)

    6.21

    (5.38–7.12)

    11.69

    (10.19–13.32)

    15.36

    (12.77–18.26)

    12.74

    (10.32–15.49)

    17.54

    (14.65–20.77)

    15.93

    (12.32–20.13)

    Systemic lupus erythematosus

    (n=13,164; 0.75%)

    10.19

    (9.37–11.05)

    7.98

    (6.91–9.13)

    11.26

    (9.53–13.17)

    14.48

    (11.46–17.94)

    10.86

    (8.18–14.03)

    13.43

    (10.41–16.95)

    9.59

    (5.86–14.52)

    Haematopoietic stem cell transplantation

     (n=1581; 0.09%)

    9.39

    (7.11–12.08)

    6.13

    (3.75–9.29)

    12.63

    (7.07–20.30)

    **

    (4.72–26.50)

    14.36

    (5.27–29.60)

    16.24

    (6.53–31.89)

    *

    (2.04–26.37)

    Solid organ malignancy

    (n=652,458; 36.97%)

    8.46

    (8.35–8.58)

    3.60

    (3.39–3.82)

    6.36

    (6.11–6.62)

    7.36

    (7.04–7.69)

    7.90

    (7.61–8.19)

    10.87

    (10.59–11.15)

    11.65

    (11.34–11.97)

    Rheumatoid arthritis

    (n=236,500; 13.40%)

    7.84

    (7.68–8.00)

    3.23

    (3.03–3.42)

    6.45

    (6.16–6.75)

    8.28

    (7.82–8.75)

    10.15

    (9.65–10.66)

    13.18

    (12.63–13.74)

    14.39

    (13.62–15.18)

    Multiple sclerosis

    (n=34,533; 1.96%)

    6.99

    (6.58–7.41)

    4.69

    (4.15–5.28)

    7.27

    (6.49–8.11)

    7.10

    (5.95–8.39)

    8.92

    (7.57–10.40)

    11.24

    (9.54–13.11)

    12.20

    (9.35–15.53)

    Inflammatory bowel disease (n=136,527; 7.74%)

    6.92

    (6.71–7.13)

    4.37

    (4.12–4.63)

    6.28

    (5.84–6.73)

    8.40

    (7.65–9.19)

    9.89

    (9.08–10.74)

    12.63

    (11.73–13.57)

    12.03

    (10.90–13.23)

    Human immunodeficiency virus

    (n=22,946; 1.30%)

    6.49

    (5.97–7.04)

    5.91

    (5.30–6.56)

    7.04

    (5.96–8.22)

    7.16

    (4.83–10.08)

    13.08

    (8.69–18.63)

    11.51

    (6.44–18.51)

    0
    (N/A)

    Autoimmune thyroiditis

    (n=39,585; 2.24%)

    6.03

    (5.66–6.42)

    3.40

    (3.01–3.83)

    6.95

    (6.16–7.81)

    7.45

    (6.14–8.93)

    8.43

    (6.92–10.14)

    13.32

    (11.24–15.63)

    12.90

    (10.13–16.10)

    Psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis

    (n=462,131; 26.18%) 

    5.05

    (4.96–5.15)

    2.45

    (2.35–2.54)

    4.83

    (4.62–5.04)

    7.14

    (6.76–7.53)

    7.86

    (7.46–8.28)

    11.03

    (10.55–11.51)

    11.80

    (11.16–12.47)

    *Masked for confidentiality and data protection reasons (<5 cases); **Masked to prevent back-calculation of smallest value.

  • The incidence rate of shingles increases with age across chronic conditions2

    Shingles incidence rates by age group in adults with at least one chronic condition across the entire study period2

     

    Overall

    (N=6,423,633)

    Age group (years)

    18–49 years

    (n=3,562,279)

    50–59 years

    (n=936,607)

    60–64 years

    (n=437,108)

    65–69 years

    (n=409,646)

    70–79 years

    (n=589,487)

    ≥80 years

    (n=488,506)

    Incidence rates of shingles per 1,000 person-years

    (95% confidence interval)

    5.16

    (5.14–5.19)

    2.45

    (2.42–2.48)

    4.92

    (4.86–4.98)

    6.67

    (6.56–6.77)

    7.59

    (7.48–7.70)

    10.40

    (10.28–10.52)

    11.54

    (11.40–11.68)

    Condition

    Chronic kidney disease

    (n=307,023; 4.78%)

    8.77

    (8.61–8.93)

    3.36

    (3.07–3.66)

    5.66

    (5.27–6.06)

    7.23

    (6.71–7.77)

    7.70

    (7.25–8.16)

    10.29

    (9.93–10.66)

    11.37

    (11.05–11.69)

    Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

    (n=174,410; 2.72%)

    8.74

    (8.51–8.97)

    2.50

    (2.10–2.94)

    5.33

    (4.87–5.81)

    6.92

    (6.36–7.50)

    8.61

    (8.08–9.15)

    11.18

    (10.68–11.69)

    12.31

    (11.69–12.96)

    Heart failure

    (n=79,152; 1.23%)

    8.60

    (8.23–8.99)

    2.41

    (1.79–3.16)

    4.66

    (3.86–5.56)

    6.40

    (5.31–7.62)

    6.56

    (5.61–7.60)

    9.82

    (8.96–10.72)

    11.54

    (10.85–12.27)

    Coronary artery disease

    (n=402,518; 6.27%)

    8.56

    (8.42–8.70)

    2.34

    (2.02–2.70)

    4.23

    (3.96–4.51)

    6.16

    (5.80–6.53)

    6.97

    (6.64–7.30)

    10.19

    (9.89–10.49)

    11.80

    (11.49–12.11)

    Diabetes mellitus

    (n=648,734; 10.10%)

    5.80

    (5.71–5.89)

    2.29

    (2.16–2.41)

    4.18

    (4.02–4.34)

    5.52

    (5.28–5.77)

    6.35

    (6.10–6.61)

    8.91

    (8.65–9.18)

    10.00

    (9.66–10.35)

    Depression and/or anxiety

    (n=2,946,398; 45.87%)

    4.76

    (4.72–4.80)

    2.50

    (2.47–2.54)

    5.05

    (4.97–5.14)

    6.88

    (6.73–7.04)

    7.91

    (7.73–8.09)

    10.80

    (10.58–11.02)

    11.89

    (11.59–12.20)

    Chronic liver disease

    (n=111,453; 1.74%)

    4.72

    (4.53–4.92)

    1.89

    (1.69–2.09)

    4.34

    (3.98–4.72)

    5.91

    (5.29–6.58)

    7.52

    (6.78–8.31)

    9.90

    (8.99–10.87)

    11.49

    (10.05–13.05)

    Asthma

    (n=1,817,239; 28.29%)

    4.05

    (4.01–4.09)

    2.40

    (2.36–2.44)

    5.05

    (4.93–5.18)

    7.23

    (6.97–7.49)

    8.13

    (7.85–8.43)

    11.50

    (11.16–11.84)

    12.55

    (12.10–13.00)

  • Overall and annual shingles incidence rates by age group in adults with immunocompromising conditions (2012–2019)1

     

    Age group (years)

    18–49

    50–59

    60–64

    65–69 70–79 ≥80

    HZ N

    IR 95% CI

    HZ N

    IR 95% CI

    HZ N

    IR 95% CI

    HZ N

    IR 95% CI HZ N IR 95% CI HZ N IR 95% CI
    Overall

    7,409

    3.34 3.26–3.42

    8,916

    6.23 6.10–6.36

    6,098

    8.02 7.82–8.22

    7,703

    8.91 8.71–9.11 13,347 11.82 11.62–12.03

    11,101

    12.58 12.34–12.81
    2012

    842

    3.24 3.02–3.46

    934

    6.12 5.73–6.52 718 7.86 7.29–8.45

    898

    9.19 8.60–9.81 1,769 11.01 10.50–11.53

    1,467

    12.32 11.69–12.96
    2013

    853

    3.23 3.01–3.45

    928

    5.84 5.47–6.23

    698

    7.78 7.21–8.37

    943

    9.10 8.53–9.70 1,935 11.80 11.28–12.34

    1,559

    12.85 12.22–13.50
    2014

    897

    3.33 3.12–3.56

    1,101

    6.63 6.25–7.03

    674

    7.48 6.93–8.07

    1,027

    9.55 8.97–10.14 1,863 11.93 11.40–12.48

    1,543

    12.85 12.22–13.51
    2015

    904

    3.29 3.08–3.51

    1,079

    6.17 5.81–6.55

    786

    8.56 7.97–9.17

    957

    8.59 8.06–9.15 1,704 11.82 11.27–12.39

    1,408

    12.31 11.68–12.97
    2016

    923

    3.28 3.07–3.50

    1,151

    6.23 5.88–6.60

    727

    7.67 7.12–8.25

    972

    8.53 8.00–9.08 1,610 11.72 11.15–12.30

    1,349

    12.29 11.64–12.96
    2017

    984

    3.44 3.23–3.66

    1,195

    6.22 5.88–6.58

    787

    8.05 7.50–8.63

    926

    8.28 7.76–8.83 1,606 12.08 11.50–12.68

    1,274

    12.24 11.57–12.92
    2018

    967

    3.32 3.12–3.54

    1,224

    6.16 5.82–6.51

    823

    8.13 7.58–8.70

    1,041

    9.46 8.90–10.05 1,474 11.93 11.33–12.55

    1,305

    13.15 12.45–13.88
    2019

    1,039

    3.56 3.35–3.79

    1,304

    6.43 6.08–6.78

    885

    8.54 7.99–9.12

    939

    8.63 8.09–9.20 1,386 12.59 11.94–13.27

    1,196

    12.62 11.91–13.35

Key findings from the study

  • Burden of shingles increases with age, and is highest in adults over the age of 80.
  • Adults with immunocompromising conditions are at risk of shingles regardless of age, underscoring the importance of timely diagnosis and proactive management.
  • Among all immunocompromising conditions studied, adults with haematological malignancies have the highest incidence rates of shingles.
  • Adults with chronic conditions, such as CKD, COPD, heart failure and coronary artery disease, are at an increased risk of shingles compared with adults without chronic conditions.

References

  1. Mahmood A, Nishimwe M, Vekria Y, et al. Herpes zoster incidence rates in immunocompromised adults aged 18 years or older in England: A large retrospective cohort study using data from the Clinical Practice Research Datalink (2012–2019). Presented at ESCMID Global 2025. P0230.
  2. Mahmood A, Nishimwe M, Vekria Y, et al. Herpes zoster incidence in adults with chronic conditions: a large retrospective cohort study using data from Clinical Practice Research Datalink (2012-2019). Presented at RCGP 2025. P9101.
  3. Parry H, Nishimwe M, Vekria Y, et al. Herpes zoster incidence rates in adults in England aged 18 years or older with haematological malignancies: A retrospective cohort study using data from the Clinical Practice Research Datalink (2012–2019). Presented at BSH 2025. PO102.
  4. Yanni EA, Ferreira G, Guennec M, et al. Burden of herpes zoster in 16 selected immunocompromised populations in England: A cohort study in the Clinical Practice Research Datalink 2000–2012. BMJ Open 2018;8:e020528.
  5. GSK. Data on file 2025.
  6. Mahmood A, Nishimwe M, Vekria Y, et al. Post-Herpetic Neuralgia Occurrence and Herpes Zoster Recurrence in Immunocompromised Adults Aged 18 Years or Older in England: a Large Retrospective Cohort Study (Clinical Practice Research Datalink, 2012-2019). Presented at ISPOR Europe 2025.
  7. Mahmood A, Nishimwe M, Vekria Y, et al. Herpes zoster incidence rates in adults aged 18 years or older with coronary artery disease or heart failure in England: A retrospective cohort study using data from the Clinical Practice Research Datalink (2012–2019). Presented at BCS 2025.

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January 2026 | NX-GB-HZU-WCNT-250010 (V1.0)