For over nine years, N.V.D., 67, from Bac Giang Province in northern Vietnam, has been living with postherpetic neuralgia.

He has experienced many continuous pain episodes, with some feeling like electric shocks, and even wearing clothes touching the wound was unbearable.

During the first three years, he lost 20kg due to pain-induced insomnia.

He has been treated with a combination of pain relievers, including antidepressants, but has only shown a partial response.

Similarly, P.V.G., a 71-year-old from Hanoi, has suffered from diabetes and hypertension for the past 10 years, with difficult-to-control blood sugar levels.

Two years ago, G. discovered shingles blisters spreading over his entire right arm from the neck down.

Three weeks later, the wound showed signs of healing, but he experienced severe burning pain, feeling extremely uncomfortable when touching his arm.

Eating, bathing, and daily activities became very difficult, and he suffered severe insomnia due to pain and stress, making him very depressed and negative.

These cases are just two among many elderly people with underlying conditions diagnosed with shingles in Vietnam, said Dr. Nguyen Van Lieu, head of the neurology and stroke department at Tam Anh General Hospital at the ‘Multidisciplinary Collaboration - Comprehensive Shingles Prevention’ symposiums recently held in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.

The symposiums, organized by the Vietnam Geriatric Association, attracted the participation of over 500 healthcare professionals from hospitals and medical associations in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, with the support of GSK Vietnam.

“Currently, treating postherpetic neuralgia is very challenging as most treatments require multimodal approaches, and patients have to endure side effects that significantly affect their quality of life,” Dr. Lieu said.

In Vietnam, nearly two-thirds of people aged 60 and over have chronic diseases, with more than half of them having multiple comorbidities, said Associate Professor Nguyen Trung Anh, president of the Vietnam Geriatric Association and director of the National Geriatric Hospital in Hanoi.

“Numerous studies indicate that comorbid chronic diseases increase the risk of herpes zoster (shingles), and this risk is even higher in patients with multiple comorbidities,” Anh said.

Prof. Dr. Truong Quang Binh, chairman of the Scientific Council of the University Medical Center Ho Chi Minh City and chairman of the Atherosclerosis Subcommittee – Vietnam Society of Cardiology, stated that cardiovascular patients have a 34-percent higher risk of contracting shingles compared to the general population.

Particularly concerning is when stable cardiovascular patients contract shingles, as it may result in serious cardiovascular events such as stroke, transient ischemic attack, myocardial infarction.

“Although not frequent, these events severely impact the quality of life and can even be life-threatening,” Binh said.

“Therefore, proactively preventing shingles in cardiovascular patients is extremely important.”

Shingles can also negatively affect blood sugar control, therefore diabetic patients who contract shingles have a higher risk of severe or prolonged complications, such as secondary infections, pain, and slow wound healing.

Meanwhile, in patients with chronic respiratory diseases, shingles can exacerbate COPD symptoms, causing shortness of breath, and more frequent exacerbations.

Shingles can significantly affect both mental and physical health, and can also create a medical,  financial, and social burden.

Treatment, particularly for prolonged complications can result in various associated costs such as consultations, initial care, inpatient and outpatient treatments, or longer hospital stays.

At the symposium in Ho Chi Minh City, Associate Professor Dr. Le Dinh Thanh, director of Thong Nhat Hospital, emphasized the importance of implementing preventive counseling at hospitals and medical facilities.

"Early preventive access and multidisciplinary collaboration play a crucial role in helping patients understand the risks and potential complications of shingles, especially those with underlying conditions,” Thanh said.

“When timely and comprehensive counseling is provided, patients can proactively take health protection measures, thereby reducing the risk of complications and effectively managing chronic diseases.

“This is not only a solution to improve quality of life but also helps reduce the burden on the health care system."

Adjuvant technology is a new advancement in preventing infectious diseases for adults and  individuals with underlying conditions.

Associate Professor Dr. Pham Quang Thai, an expert from the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, stated at the symposium: "Advanced adjuvant technology helps enhance the ability to generate a stronger and longer-lasting immune response, providing better protection for the elderly and those with underlying conditions against infectious diseases and severe complications."

He also hailed the benefits of preventing shingles with the new technology, a solution that has been widely adopted in many developed countries such as the United States, Canada, Australia, Germany, Switzerland, and over 30 other countries worldwide.

Dr. Pham Thi My Lien, president of GSK Vietnam, reaffirmed the company’s commitment to advancing medical solutions for Vietnamese people, saying GSK’s focus on preventing infectious diseases, particularly among adults and high-risk groups, through ongoing research and collaboration with local agencies, associations, and medical experts.

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