Incidence of herpes zoster in Japanese patients with rheumatoid arthritis from 2005 to 2010

Abstract

Objective. To clarify the incidence and the risks of herpes zoster infection in Japanese patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Methods. By using a self-report of occurrence of herpes zoster in patients with RA in a large observational cohort study from 2005 to 2010, the standardized incidence rate was calculated. A Cox model was used to analyze risk factors for occurrence of herpes zoster.

Results. A total of 7,986 patients (female 83.1%) accumulated 30,140 patient-years of observation, and 366 events were confirmed. The standardized incidence rate per 1,000 patient-years was 9.1 (95% confidence interval (CI) 6.2–12.9) in total, 7.8 (3.6–14.8) in men, and 10.3 (6.8–15.0) in women. The risk factors for herpes zoster were age [/10 years: Hazard ratio (HR) 1.268, 95% CI 1.153–1.393, p < 0.0001), high disease activity compared with remission (HR 1.642, 95% CI 1.067–2.528, p < 0.05), prednisolone (< 5 mg/day compared with 0 mg/day: HR 1.531, 95% CI 1.211–1.936, p < 0.001; ≥ 5 mg/day compared with 0 mg/day: HR 1.471, 95% CI 1.034–2.093, p < 0.05), and methotrexate (HR 1.382, 95% CI 1.076–1.774, p < 0.05).

Conclusion. This study quantified the historical incidence and risk for herpes zoster in Japanese RA patients, and is a benchmark for future studies.

Keywords:

• Biologics
• Corticosteroids
• Herpes zoster
• Methotrexate
• Rheumatoid arthritis

Conflict of Interests

IORRA cohort study has been organized by the support of Tokyo Women's Medical University and this study has received no funding from any special industry.

Nakajima A; non, Urano W; non, Inoue E; non, Atsuo T; non, Momohara S; speaker fee from Abbott, AbbVie, Astellas, Bristol-Myers Squib, Chugai, Eisai, Mitsubishi Tanabe, Pfizer, Takeda, and Teijin. Yamanaka H; consulting fee and speaker fee from Abbott, AbbVie, Asahikasei, Astellas, AstraZeneca, Bristol-Myers Squib, Chugai, Daiichi Sankyo, Eisai, GlaxoSmithKline, Janssen, Mitsubishi Tanabe, MSD, Nippon Kayaku, Pfizer, Santen, Taishotoyama, Takeda, and Teijin.