{"title":"Risk of hematologic malignancies following herpes zoster after COVID-19: a global cohort study.","authors":"Chien-Lin Lu, Joshua Wang, Ching-Liang Ho, Yan-Jun Wu, Kuo-Cheng Lu, Chung-Chi Yang","doi":"10.3389/fmed.2025.1651614","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Herpes zoster (HZ) has been reported as a potential post-viral complication in individuals recovering from COVID-19, possibly due to virus-induced immune dysregulation. We aimed to investigate whether post-COVID HZ is associated with an elevated risk of hematologic or infectious complications.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We conducted a retrospective cohort study using the TriNetX global research network, which aggregates de-identified electronic health records from more than 140 healthcare institutions. Adults diagnosed with COVID-19 between January 2020 and January 2022 were stratified by the presence or absence of HZ within one year of infection and matched 1:1 by age, sex, and comorbidities. Outcomes including leukopenia, urinary tract infection, multiple myeloma, and acute leukemia were evaluated over a three-year follow-up using time-to-event and multivariable Cox regression analyses.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Individuals with post-COVID HZ had significantly higher risks of developing hematologic and infectious complications. Subgroup analyses identified older age, impaired kidney function, elevated inflammatory markers, and metabolic abnormalities as factors associated with greater risk.</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>These findings suggest that HZ following COVID-19 may serve as a clinical indicator of immune vulnerability and heightened susceptibility to hematologic and infectious disorders. Long-term monitoring may be warranted in high-risk populations.</p>","PeriodicalId":12488,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Medicine","volume":"12 ","pages":"1651614"},"PeriodicalIF":3.1000,"publicationDate":"2025-09-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12497860/pdf/","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Frontiers in Medicine","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.3389/fmed.2025.1651614","RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"2025/1/1 0:00:00","PubModel":"eCollection","JCR":"Q1","JCRName":"MEDICINE, GENERAL & INTERNAL","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Introduction: Herpes zoster (HZ) has been reported as a potential post-viral complication in individuals recovering from COVID-19, possibly due to virus-induced immune dysregulation. We aimed to investigate whether post-COVID HZ is associated with an elevated risk of hematologic or infectious complications.
Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study using the TriNetX global research network, which aggregates de-identified electronic health records from more than 140 healthcare institutions. Adults diagnosed with COVID-19 between January 2020 and January 2022 were stratified by the presence or absence of HZ within one year of infection and matched 1:1 by age, sex, and comorbidities. Outcomes including leukopenia, urinary tract infection, multiple myeloma, and acute leukemia were evaluated over a three-year follow-up using time-to-event and multivariable Cox regression analyses.
Results: Individuals with post-COVID HZ had significantly higher risks of developing hematologic and infectious complications. Subgroup analyses identified older age, impaired kidney function, elevated inflammatory markers, and metabolic abnormalities as factors associated with greater risk.
Discussion: These findings suggest that HZ following COVID-19 may serve as a clinical indicator of immune vulnerability and heightened susceptibility to hematologic and infectious disorders. Long-term monitoring may be warranted in high-risk populations.
期刊介绍：
Frontiers in Medicine publishes rigorously peer-reviewed research linking basic research to clinical practice and patient care, as well as translating scientific advances into new therapies and diagnostic tools. Led by an outstanding Editorial Board of international experts, this multidisciplinary open-access journal is at the forefront of disseminating and communicating scientific knowledge and impactful discoveries to researchers, academics, clinicians and the public worldwide.
In addition to papers that provide a link between basic research and clinical practice, a particular emphasis is given to studies that are directly relevant to patient care. In this spirit, the journal publishes the latest research results and medical knowledge that facilitate the translation of scientific advances into new therapies or diagnostic tools. The full listing of the Specialty Sections represented by Frontiers in Medicine is as listed below. As well as the established medical disciplines, Frontiers in Medicine is launching new sections that together will facilitate
- the use of patient-reported outcomes under real world conditions
- the exploitation of big data and the use of novel information and communication tools in the assessment of new medicines
- the scientific bases for guidelines and decisions from regulatory authorities
- access to medicinal products and medical devices worldwide
- addressing the grand health challenges around the world
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