Shingles risk in younger adults with chronic conditions rivals that of healthy adults in their 50s

Summary This GSK-sponsored retrospective cohort study used US Merative MarketScan claims data (2015–2022) covering over 20.6 million adults to compare herpes zoster (HZ) incidence rates in immunocompetent adults aged 18–49 with seven comorbidities (asthma, COPD, chronic kidney disease [CKD], depression, diabetes, stress, trauma) against immunocompetent 50–59-year-olds without comorbidities, the youngest group currently recommended for shingles vaccination in the US. Using a predefined non-inferiority margin, HZ incidence rates were significantly higher, starting as early as age 30–39, in adults with asthma (adjusted incidence rate ratio [aIRR] 1.19), COPD (1.31), depression (1.31), diabetes (1.18), stress (1.28), and trauma (1.25) compared with the older immunocompetent reference group; CKD reached significantly higher risk from age 50–59 (aIRR 1.50). HZ risk, postherpetic neuralgia, and hospitalization rates all rose further with additional comorbidities and with age. Comment: This is a well-powered claims-based analysis with a clear, policy-relevant message: adults as young as their 30s with common chronic diseases may...