Background: This study aimed to explore the independent risk factors for postherpetic neuralgia (PHN).
Methods: Related studies of PHN risk factors were searched in PubMed for screening and meta-analysis. In this study, data from studies included were extracted and summarized, including odds ratio (OR) value, 95% confidence interval (CI), P value, sample size, and the number of patients with and without PHN. The chi-square test was used for heterogeneity test. Sensitivity analysis was conducted by excluding low-quality studies and using different model analysis.
Results: A total of 14 studies were further screened for meta-analysis, including 4,192 patients with herpes zoster. Of these patients, 478 (11.40%) had neuralgia and 3,714 (88.60%) did not have neuralgia. Age [OR =1.59; 95% CI: (1.23, 2.04); Z=3.62; P<0.001], acute severe pain in the herpes stage [OR =1.49; 95% CI: (1.08, 2.08); Z=2.39; P=0.02], prodromal symptoms [OR =2.00; 95% CI: (1.16, 3.44); Z=2.48; P=0.01], and severe rash [OR =2.40; 95% CI: (1.83, 3.14); Z=6.38; P<0.001] were independent risk factors for PHN. The funnel chart shows that there is no publication bias or geographic bias in the above independent risk factors. Gender (Z=0.37; P=0.71) was not associated with PHN, and the funnel chart shows that there is no publication bias or geographic bias.
Discussion: Age, acute pain, prodromal symptoms, and severe rash were independent risk factors for PHN.
Keywords: Postherpetic neuralgia (PHN); meta-analysis; risk factors.