Abstract
Purpose:
To provide a population-based estimate of the incidence of herpes simplex eye disease with comparisons across racial, gender, and age groups.
Methods:
The electronic medical record of Kaiser Permanente Hawaii between January 1, 2006 and December 31, 2007, was searched for International Classification of Diseases, 9th Edition (ICD9) codes corresponding to herpes simplex eye disease. Chart review was performed to confirm a diagnosis of herpes simplex eye disease and to collect information on specific ocular manifestations. Incidence rates were calculated per 100,000 person-years for the entire population, as well as for age-, gender-, and race-specific subgroups using a dynamic population model.
Results:
In the Kaiser Hawaii population of 217,061 people, ninety-four cases of herpes simplex eye disease were identified. The overall incidence was 21.7 per 100,000 person-years (95% confidence interval (CI): 17.5-26.5). For people 65 years of age and over, the incidence rate was 37.4 per 100,000 person-years (95% CI: 22.8-57.7), approximately twice the remainder of the population (p=0.01). The most common manifestation of herpes simplex eye disease was keratitis, followed by dermatitis and conjunctivitis. The incidence of herpes simplex eye disease for Asians was 15.2 per 100,000 person-years (95% CI: 10.3- 22.0), which was significantly lower than the rate for non-Asians (p=0.02). Prior and current use of immunosuppressant medications were found to be risk factors for herpes simplex eye disease.
Conclusions:
These results provide a population-based estimate of herpes simplex eye disease in the Hawaiian population and demonstrate differences across age and racial subgroups. Various genetic and environmental factors may explain these differences.