Is There an Association Between Shingles and The Risk of Fragility Fractures?

Herpes zoster (HZ) is caused by the reactivation of the varicella-zoster virus (VZV), the same virus responsible for chickenpox. HZ is responsible for a significant public health burden, particularly in aging populations [1]. The primary risk factor for HZ is increasing age, due to a natural decline in cellular immunity to the VZV [2]. In the United States, one in three will develop shingles in their lifetime, and there are an estimated 1 million cases annually [3, 4]. HZ may be associated with post-herpetic neuralgia as well as other neurological, ocular, skin, and visceral complications [5]. It can be effectively prevented by receiving two doses of the recombinant zoster vaccine regardless of history of prior episodes [6].

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