[Epidemiological characteristics and trend of hospitalization of patients with herpes zoster in Beijing, 2017-2022].

Objective

To analyze the epidemiological characteristics and trend of hospitalization of the patients with herpes zoster in Beijing from 2017 to 2022.

Methods

In this retrospective study, the information of hospitalization of herpes zoster patients were collected from all medical institutions at the first level and above in Xicheng, Changping, and Miyun districts of Beijing. The age and gender specific hospitalization rates and age-standardized hospitalization rates were calculated. Joinpoint regression model was used to explore the trend of the hospitalization rates, and the influencing factors of the hospital stay length and complications were analyzed.

Results

The age-standardized hospitalization rate of the patients with herpes zoster was 10.82/100 000-18.43/100 000 in Beijing from 2017 to 2022 [annual percent change (APC) =5.86%, 95%CI: -2.80%-15.98%]. The age-standardized hospitalization rate of the cases with herpes zoster as the main diagnosis showed an upward trend (APC=11.35%, 95%CI: 7.21%-16.23%). The age-standardized hospitalization rate showed an upward trend in women (APC=14.34%, 95%CI: 7.95%-22.37%). The hospitalization rate showed a downward trend in age group 30-39 years (APC=-24.92%, 95%CI: -48.56% - -1.85%) and showed upward trends in age group 70-79 years and 80-109 years (APC=23.18%, 95%CI: 13.53%-35.58%; APC=4.90%, 95%CI: 1.18%-9.19%). Complications occurred in 66.28% (680/1 026) of the patients. The median hospital stay length was 9 (5,15) days, and the patients with high age (≥80 years) and two or more complications had longer hospital stay, which were 12 (6, 23) and 14 (7, 27) days respectively (P<0.001).

Conclusions

The hospitalization rate in women and the elderly aged ≥70 years with herpes zoster as the main diagnosis showed upward trends in Beijing in recent years. The elderly aged ≥80 years usually had longer hospital stay, showing a relatively disease burden level. More attention should be paid to development of intervention strategies, such as vaccine, for this population.