Introduction: Following the development of herpes zoster vaccines and the potential socio-economic benefits hereof, it is relevant to conduct a study concerning epidemiological aspects of the disease based on a Danish population.
Material and methods: Structured telephone interviews with 1207 persons above 50 years of age were conducted in order to determine the cumulated incidence proportion of herpes zoster in the age groups 50-66 years, 66-70 years and 71+.
Results: The cumulated incidence proportion of herpes zoster was 8.9%, 12.5%, 16.0% in the age groups 50-65 years, 65-70 years and 71+, respectively. Herpes zoster was positively associated with female sex, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia and prescription medicine; however, only the former remained significant after test in a multiple logistic regression model.
Conclusion: Herpes zoster is common among persons who are more than 50 years old and most frequent among women.