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Q&A: Do Enough Adults With IBD Receive the Herpes Zoster Vaccine?
Individuals with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are at increased risk for herpes zoster. Currently, adults aged 50 years and older are recommended to receive the recombinant zoster vaccination. It is even more crucial that individuals with IBD be vaccinated due to the risk of more frequent and severe complications.
Despite its importance, physician adherence to vaccination guidelines and the rate of herpes zoster vaccination is currently unknown.
A new study1 led by Dr Marie Borum, director of the division of gastroenterology and liver disease and professor of medicine at George Washington University, found that individuals with IBD are not often recommended the varicella zoster vaccine, despite current guidelines.
In the study, Borum and colleagues evaluated 393 patients with IBD seen in the gastroenterology clinic of a university medical center over a 5-year period. The researchers measured patient age, gender, IBD diagnosis, overall vaccination documentation, and herpes zoster vaccination status.
Results showed that one-third of the cohort were older than 50 years of age, yet vaccination rates were considered modest. A total 4.3% of patients had a documented varicella-zoster vaccine with an average age of vaccination of 60.35 years.
Gastroenterology Consultant caught up with Borum to talk about her research that was recently presented during a poster session at the 2018 AIBD Meeting.
Gastroenterology Consultant: How did your study come about?
Marie Borum: An increasing number of individuals with inflammatory bowel disease presented to the university practice with severe herpes zoster. This observation prompted an assessment of the rate at which IBD patients were administered herpes zoster vaccination.
Individuals with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are at increased risk for herpes zoster. Currently, adults aged 50 years and older are recommended to receive the recombinant zoster vaccination. It is even more crucial that individuals with IBD be vaccinated due to the risk of more frequent and severe complications.
Despite its importance, physician adherence to vaccination guidelines and the rate of herpes zoster vaccination is currently unknown.
A new study1 led by Dr Marie Borum, director of the division of gastroenterology and liver disease and professor of medicine at George Washington University, found that individuals with IBD are not often recommended the varicella zoster vaccine, despite current guidelines.
In the study, Borum and colleagues evaluated 393 patients with IBD seen in the gastroenterology clinic of a university medical center over a 5-year period. The researchers measured patient age, gender, IBD diagnosis, overall vaccination documentation, and herpes zoster vaccination status.
Results showed that one-third of the cohort were older than 50 years of age, yet vaccination rates were considered modest. A total 4.3% of patients had a documented varicella-zoster vaccine with an average age of vaccination of 60.35 years.
Gastroenterology Consultant caught up with Borum to talk about her research that was recently presented during a poster session at the 2018 AIBD Meeting.
Gastroenterology Consultant: How did your study come about?
Marie Borum: An increasing number of individuals with inflammatory bowel disease presented to the university practice with severe herpes zoster. This observation prompted an assessment of the rate at which IBD patients were administered herpes zoster vaccination.
