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The impact of herpes zoster and subsequent chronic pain on patients’ daily lives

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Abstract

Aim

The aim of our study was to carry out a literature review and develop a model illustrating the domains of patients’ lives that are impacted by herpes zoster (HZ) and subsequent chronic pain.

Subjects and methods

Biomedical databases and online congress archives were searched using keywords related to HZ or post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN) and social, psychological or physical impact. A total of 733 abstracts were reviewed, and 29 publications containing concepts reported by patients were retained for the model. Wilson and Cleary’s model was used to organise the findings. Links between concepts were documented on three levels: hypothesis, observation and evidence. The final model illustrates the concepts impacted by HZ and PHN, relationships between these concepts and the level of evidence identified.

Results

The concepts identified from the articles were grouped into the following categories: biological/physiological, symptom status, functional status, health perceptions, characteristics of the individual, health-related quality of life (HRQOL), treatment and characteristics of the environment. Evidence exists showing that HZ-related pain directly impacts functional status, health perceptions and HRQOL.

Conclusion

Patients report that all major domains of life are impaired by HZ or subsequent chronic pain. HZ and its painful and debilitating complications can have a substantial impact on physical, psychological, social and role functioning, HRQOL and activities of daily living. The impact on elderly patients needs to be further assessed with appropriately designed and validated instruments, with specific attention paid to dependence.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Nicola Barnes and Isabelle Guillemin for their contribution to the development of the manuscript and Claire Marant for performing the literature search.

Conflict of interest

This work was funded partly by Sanofi Pasteur, MSD. Khadra Benmedjahed and Benoit Arnould are paid consultants employed by Mapi Values. Special thanks to Angus Thomson for his thorough review of the different versions of this paper.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Mapi Values, 27 rue de la Villette, 69003, Lyon, France

    Benoit Arnould & Khadra Benmedjahed

  2. Medical practice, Paris, France

    Jean-Luc Gallais

  3. Saint Eloi Hospital, Montpellier, France

    Patrick Giniès

  4. Division of Neurological Pain Research and Therapy, Department of Neurology, University Hospital, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany

    Ralf Baron

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  1. Benoit Arnould
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  2. Khadra Benmedjahed
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  3. Jean-Luc Gallais
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Correspondence to Benoit Arnould.

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Arnould, B., Benmedjahed, K., Gallais, JL. et al. The impact of herpes zoster and subsequent chronic pain on patients’ daily lives. J Public Health 18, 567–574 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10389-010-0346-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10389-010-0346-6

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