Just over one quarter (28%) of Irish people are not aware that you can develop shingles more than once and over four in ten (42%) did not know that blindness is a rare complication of shingles – new research from GSK Ireland.
New ‘Understanding Shingles’ campaign unveiled by broadcaster Marty Whelan to help address significant misconceptions about shingles and the lack of knowledge about the risks and impact of shingles among those aged 50+
- Nearly six in ten (59%) people over 50 feel that they are at high risk of developing shingles, with 58% saying shingles would have an extremely negative impact on their quality of life.
- 21% are unaware that shingles can cause long-term nerve pain.
- Globally, shingles will affect up to 1 in 3 people in their lifetime,[i],[ii],[iii],[iv],5 and its pain is often described as aching, burning, stabbing or shock-like.1
- Broadcaster Marty Whelan calls on the over-50s to ‘Understand Shingles’ and speak with their doctor, practice nurse or pharmacist about their risk of shingles or go to www.understandingshingles.ie
GSK Ireland today released new data from an Irish survey, commissioned and funded by GSK, highlighting some significant misconceptions in the understanding of shingles risk, symptoms and complications among people aged 50 and over. a group of adults who are particularly at risk of the condition.
The research shows that just over one quarter (28%) of Irish people are not aware that you can develop shingles more than once and over four in ten (42%) did not know that blindness is a rare complication of shingles. Over four in ten (41%) incorrectly believe that shingles is contagious, while a quarter of people surveyed (25%) did not understand the link between chickenpox and shingles. 21% of those surveyed are also unaware that shingles can cause long-term nerve pain.
The launch of the GSK ‘Understanding Shingles’ research findings aims to raise awareness and address the lack of knowledge about the risks and impact of shingles, and to encourage those at risk to speak with their doctor, practice nurse or pharmacist about shingles risk and management.
With almost six in ten people (58%) believing that shingles will have an extremely negative impact on their quality of life, the research, conducted in Ireland, also revealed that 60% of respondents perceive shingles to be a serious disease with 59% of respondents feeling that they are at high risk of developing shingles.6 It also shows that people over 50 in Ireland have good awareness of the common signs and symptoms of shingles – including a red rash (93%), severe pain (90%), blisters (80%) and long-term nerve pain (79%).6 Only 58% of those asked were aware that blindness is one of the possible complications of shingles on the eye.6 Knowledge also differed on contributing factors such as a weakened immune system (72%), being under stress (52%) and age-related declining immunity (66%).6
One-in-three people who have had chickenpox are at risk of developing shingles in their lifetime.7 The disease, which typically presents as a rash, with painful blisters across the chest, abdomen or face,8 is often described as aching, burning, stabbing or shock-like.1 Following the shingles rash, a person can also experience post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN), a long-lasting nerve pain that can last weeks or months and occasionally persist for several years. 1,4 PHN occurs in around 20% of all shingles cases, with the over-50s particularly at risk.9
10-15% of shingles cases can affect the eye which in some cases can result in serious eye complications.10
Eavan Daly, Country Medical Director, GSK Ireland, said:
“It is crucial that we continue to raise awareness about the risk of shingles in adults over 50, who are at an increased risk of shingles due to a decline in immunity. Many older adults have some understanding of the condition, but misunderstandings persist, particularly in relation to complications and personal risk. Shingles can be a debilitating illness that can seriously affect the quality of everyday life for those impacted. As part of our disease awareness campaign, we’re encouraging people who are most at risk of shingles, that is individuals over 50 and those with weakened immune systems, to talk to their healthcare professional about shingles. Our research and feedback from healthcare professionals shows that campaigns like this can encourage individuals to learn more and have conversations with their doctor, pharmacist or practice nurse.”
Marty Whelan, ambassador for GSK Ireland’s ‘Understanding Shingles’ campaign, said:
“As a new grandad to my beautiful six-month-old granddaughter, I’m more mindful than ever of the importance of keeping active, staying healthy and taking care of myself so I can fully enjoy time with my family.
As we age, our immune system naturally weakens, and we become more vulnerable to conditions like shingles. Shingles can be a very painful condition that can potentially negatively impact your quality of life. Working on this Understanding Shingles campaign has been eye opening for me as I was totally unaware of how debilitating the condition can be, especially the pain that comes with it. That’s why creating more awareness about shingles is essential. So I’m appealing to everyone over the age of 50 and to those over 18 with a weakened immune system to take the time to make themselves aware of factors that put them at risk of shingles, as well as the signs and symptoms of shingles. And if it helps, you can talk to your GP, pharmacist or practice nurse about shingles. Taking control of your health, especially as you get older, is one of the best things you can do for you, your family and your future.”
Almost all adults already carry the virus that causes shingles i and this may reactivate with advancing age.1 Shingles is caused by the reactivation of the varicella-zoster virus (VZV), the virus that causes chickenpox.1 As people age, the strength of the immune system response to infection wanes, increasing the risk of developing shingles.1 There is a sharp increase in the risk of developing shingles in people aged 50 and older.1
Marty Whelan is the official ambassador for GSK ‘Understanding Shingles’ disease awareness campaign. As part of his role, Marty will lend his voice to help improve awareness of shingles, and he will also feature in a radio advertisement. GSK Ireland are also running a shingles disease awareness campaign across television as well as outdoor advertisements such as billboards and bus shelters, encouraging people to speak to a healthcare professional or visit understandingshingles.ie to learn more about shingles.
[i] Harpaz R, et al. Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Prevention of herpes zoster: recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). MMWR Recomm Rep. 2008;57(RR-5):1-30.
[ii] Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. Shingles in Australia. Available at: https://www.aihw.gov.au/getmedia/759199ff-f5c8-421d-a572-aaa984a02b49/aihw-phe-236_shingles.pdf.aspx. Last Accessed: November 2023
[iii] Lee C, et al. Lifetime risk of herpes zoster in the population of Beijing, China. Public Health in Practice. 2023 Jun;5:100356.
[iv] Curran D, et al. Meta-Regression of Herpes Zoster Incidence Worldwide. Infect Dis Ther. 2022 Feb;11(1):389-403.
5 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Prevention of Herpes Zoster; recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunisation Practices (ACIP). MMWR, 2008 Jun;57(RR-5): 1-30
6 : Data on file. Understanding Shingles survey conducted by Ipsos MRBI on behalf of GSK. Sept 20247 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Prevention of Herpes Zoster; recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunisation Practices (ACIP). MMWR, 2008 Jun;57(RR-5): 1-30.
8 Mueller NH, et al. Varicella Zoster Virus Infection: Clinical Features, Molecular Pathogenesis of Disease and Latency. Neurologic Clinics. 2008;26;675-697
9 Gauthier et al. Epidemiology and costs of herpes zoster and postherpetic neuralgia in the United Kingdom. Epidemiol Infecti. 2009 137 38-472.
- 10. Kawai K, Gebremeskel BG, Acosta CJ. Systematic review of incidence and complications of herpes zoster: towards a global perspective. BMJ Open 2014;4(6):e004833.
11 Bollaerts K, Riera-Montes M, Heininger U, et al. A systemic Review of varicella seroprevalence in European countries before universal childhood immunisation: Deriving incidence from seroprevalence data. Epidemiol Infect. 2017 Aug;145:2666-77.
