Vietnam experts warn chronic illness raises shingles risk

The scientific session, titled 'Preventing Herpes Zoster: Advances in Clinical Practice,' was organized through a partnership between GSK Vietnam and the Vietnam Medical Association.

The event brought together leading domestic and international specialists to share the latest research and practical experience on preventing the disease among adults.

Herpes zoster, also known as shingles, is caused by a virus that remains dormant in the bodies of more than 90 percent of adults aged 30–39 years and nearly all individuals aged 40 years and older in parts of the Asia-Pacific region.

While not everyone at risk will develop the condition, studies show that about one in three adults may experience herpes zoster at some point in their lives.

Experts say key risk factors include advancing age, weakened immune systems, and underlying chronic illnesses.

Research presented at the conference indicated that people with cardiovascular disease face a roughly 34-percent higher risk of developing herpes zoster compared with otherwise healthy individuals.

The risk is also elevated by about 38 percent in people with diabetes and 29 percent in those with chronic kidney disease.

Dr. Tran Hoa, head of interventional cardiology at the University Medical Center in Ho Chi Minh City, shared a case that illustrated the overlap between chronic illness and infection.

A 56-year-old man with diabetes and hypertension was hospitalized for severe chest pain and diagnosed with a heart attack requiring a coronary stent.

When the patient later experienced recurring chest pain, doctors initially suspected complications related to the stent.

However, further examination revealed characteristic skin lesions associated with herpes zoster.

The case underscored how infections can complicate existing conditions, particularly in older patients, Dr. Hoa said, noting that herpes zoster can progress more severely and lead to prolonged complications in individuals with chronic diseases.

Professor Tony Cunningham, director of the Center for Virus Research at the Westmead Institute for Medical Research and a professor at the University of Sydney, emphasized the importance of prevention.

He said preventing herpes zoster can reduce the risk of postherpetic neuralgia, a condition in which pain persists long after the rash disappears, sometimes for months or years.

Other complications may include bacterial infections, scarring, pigment changes, and serious eye conditions.

Health authorities and global organizations have issued recommendations aimed at high-risk groups, including people with chronic conditions such as diabetes, chronic kidney disease, rheumatoid arthritis and those with weakened immune systems.

Associate Professor Dr. Duong Thi Hong, deputy director of the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, said both scientific evidence and real-world experience demonstrate the disease's significant impact.

Integrating preventive measures for adults, she said, can help reduce infection risk and complications while improving quality of life.

Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Hoang Dinh, deputy director of the University Medical Center in Ho Chi Minh City, spotlighted the need for a comprehensive, multidisciplinary healthcare approach that spans prevention and treatment.

Such a model, he said, is especially important as populations age, requiring closer collaboration among medical specialties and more proactive patient counseling.

Dr. Pham Thi My Lien, president of GSK Vietnam, said the company aims to work with health authorities and the medical community to raise awareness and strengthen confidence in preventive care, helping people better protect their health.