Hospitalized IBD patients have high pitched frequency of Shingles than non IBD patients

A new study found that hospitalized patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) have a greater chance of developing herpes zoster (HZ) than hospitalized patients without (IBD). The study results were published in the Journal of Clinical Gastroenterology. 

The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices has recently recommended HZ vaccination for adults aged 19 years and older who are at a greater risk of developing shingles due to their disease or drug-related immunosuppression. Literature also shows that there is an increased risk of herpes zoster (HZ) in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Hence researchers from the U.S.A conducted a study to understand the burden of HZ in IBD inpatients and contribute scientific evidence for an appropriate age cut-off vaccination recommendation. 

By using the 2014 US National Inpatient Sample (NIS), a population-based cross-sectional analysis was done to measure the frequencies and demographics of adult patients with IBD admitted to the hospital with an HZ diagnosis. Age-stratification analysis was performed, and age groups were compared with non-IBD inpatients with an HZ diagnosis.