Disseminated herpes zoster in adults: a single-center retrospective study on clinical spectrum and risk factors for adverse outcomes

This study identified advanced age, cardiovascular disease, and chronic inflammation as independent risk factors for DHZ, highlighting potential target groups for vaccination. Moreover, factors such as hypertension, diabetes, and severe initial pain were associated with postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) in a univariate analysis, suggesting avenues for early attention. These findings highlight the importance of early recognition, aggressive management, and, most importantly, targeted preventive vaccination with the non-live recombinant vaccine in high-risk populations, including cancer patients, to reduce the substantial morbidity associated with disseminated herpes zoster.