KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDES AND PRACTICES (KAP) AMONG CARDIOLOGISTS, ENDOCRINOLOGISTS AND NEPHROLOGISTS ON HERPES ZOSTER (HZ) AND HZ VACCINATION FOR PATIENTS WITH COMORBIDITIES IN MAINLAND CHINA, JAPAN, SOUTH KOREA AND TAIWAN...
Author(s)
Jing Chen, BM, MSc1, Rohit Dang, MPharm2, Raunak Parikh, MD, MBBS3, Sumitra Shantakumar, PhD, MPH1.
1GSK, Singapore, Singapore, 2Trinity Life Sciences, Gurugram, India, 3GSK, Wavre, Belgium.
1GSK, Singapore, Singapore, 2Trinity Life Sciences, Gurugram, India, 3GSK, Wavre, Belgium.
OBJECTIVES: To assess specialists’ knowledge, perceptions and behaviours regarding herpes zoster (HZ) and HZ vaccination for patients with cardiovascular diseases (CVD), type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and chronic kidney disease (CKD) at higher HZ risk.
METHODS: A cross-sectional online survey of cardiologists, endocrinologists and nephrologists in Mainland China, Japan, South Korea and Taiwan assessed specialists’ knowledge of HZ, risk factors/patient impact, and HZ vaccination practices.
RESULTS: 690 specialists completed the survey (per specialty: n=230 [Mainland China/Japan/South Korea/Taiwan: 80/60/45/45, respectively]), mostly aged 40-49 years (46.5%) with 11-20 years of practice (48.1%).
44.9% of specialists underestimated lifetime HZ risk in the general population as <1 in 3. Perceived HZ risk was highest for patients with T2DM/CKD/heart failure (HF) by >85% of specialists in most locales. Most (n=644) indicated HZ could temporarily (days-weeks; 73.5%)/permanently (19.9%) worsen underlying conditions, among whom, 80.1% (n=516/644) anticipated increased monitoring/follow-up post-HZ; 62.0% (n=399/644) anticipated temporary treatment disruptions.
639 specialists (92.6%) played some role in vaccinating patients with underlying conditions, of whom 89.1-94.5% (n=197-206) across specialties recommended HZ vaccination to patients with myocardial infarction/HF/T2DM/CKD, prioritising those with recent HF/poorly-controlled T2DM/advanced CKD/aged ≥65 years. 18 specialists reported recommending other vaccines but not HZ vaccines, citing lower risk versus other vaccine-preventable diseases (n=7), vaccine costs (n=5) and low patient demand (n=3).
Specialists mainly referenced local national societies or governmental bodies for vaccination recommendations, including Centers for Disease Control (Mainland China/Taiwan) and specialty-specific societies (Japan). In South Korea, cardiologists/nephrologists primarily followed American/international guidelines, respectively; endocrinologists followed local recommending bodies.
CONCLUSIONS: While specialists underestimated lifetime HZ risk, they reported HZ could impact the underlying health conditions/treatments and prioritised HZ vaccination in patients with severe conditions. Tailored initiatives are needed to address specialists’ knowledge and practice gaps around HZ prevention to support holistic patient care, including advocating for guideline updates by relevant professional bodies. Funding: GSK (Study: VEO-000653)
METHODS: A cross-sectional online survey of cardiologists, endocrinologists and nephrologists in Mainland China, Japan, South Korea and Taiwan assessed specialists’ knowledge of HZ, risk factors/patient impact, and HZ vaccination practices.
RESULTS: 690 specialists completed the survey (per specialty: n=230 [Mainland China/Japan/South Korea/Taiwan: 80/60/45/45, respectively]), mostly aged 40-49 years (46.5%) with 11-20 years of practice (48.1%).
44.9% of specialists underestimated lifetime HZ risk in the general population as <1 in 3. Perceived HZ risk was highest for patients with T2DM/CKD/heart failure (HF) by >85% of specialists in most locales. Most (n=644) indicated HZ could temporarily (days-weeks; 73.5%)/permanently (19.9%) worsen underlying conditions, among whom, 80.1% (n=516/644) anticipated increased monitoring/follow-up post-HZ; 62.0% (n=399/644) anticipated temporary treatment disruptions.
639 specialists (92.6%) played some role in vaccinating patients with underlying conditions, of whom 89.1-94.5% (n=197-206) across specialties recommended HZ vaccination to patients with myocardial infarction/HF/T2DM/CKD, prioritising those with recent HF/poorly-controlled T2DM/advanced CKD/aged ≥65 years. 18 specialists reported recommending other vaccines but not HZ vaccines, citing lower risk versus other vaccine-preventable diseases (n=7), vaccine costs (n=5) and low patient demand (n=3).
Specialists mainly referenced local national societies or governmental bodies for vaccination recommendations, including Centers for Disease Control (Mainland China/Taiwan) and specialty-specific societies (Japan). In South Korea, cardiologists/nephrologists primarily followed American/international guidelines, respectively; endocrinologists followed local recommending bodies.
CONCLUSIONS: While specialists underestimated lifetime HZ risk, they reported HZ could impact the underlying health conditions/treatments and prioritised HZ vaccination in patients with severe conditions. Tailored initiatives are needed to address specialists’ knowledge and practice gaps around HZ prevention to support holistic patient care, including advocating for guideline updates by relevant professional bodies. Funding: GSK (Study: VEO-000653)
Conference/Value in Health Info
2026-09, ISPOR Asia Pacific 2026, Bangkok, Thailand
Value in Health, Volume 55, Issue S1
Code
EPH23
Topic
Epidemiology & Public Health
Topic Subcategory
Public Health
Disease
SDC: Cardiovascular Disorders (including MI, Stroke, Circulatory), SDC: Diabetes/Endocrine/Metabolic Disorders (including obesity), SDC: Urinary/Kidney Disorders, STA: Vaccines