Shingles Action Week 2026: Why seniors with chronic illnesses are at greater risk”

By Admin

25 Feb, 2026

Introduction: A Growing Health Concern in Ageing India

India is currently undergoing a major epidemiological transition. Chronic diseases are rising sharply due to genetic, physiological, environmental, and behavioural factors. From middle age onwards, non-communicable diseases become the dominant health challenge.

Today, nearly 75% of older adults live with at least one chronic condition, and around 23% live with multiple co-morbidities. As the number of seniors with chronic illnesses increases, so does the risk of infections such as shingles. During SPEAKShingles Action Week 2026, the spotlight is on why prevention and awareness are more important than ever.

Why Chronic Illness Increases Infection Risk

People living with chronic conditions often have a compromised immune system. Persistent inflammation, metabolic stress, and long-term treatments such as chemotherapy for cancer weaken the body’s natural defences. The use of immunosuppressive medications, including corticosteroids, further reduces the immune response.

As people age, the immune system naturally declines. When this age-related immune weakening combines with chronic disease, the risk, frequency, and severity of infections increase significantly. Shingles is one such infection that requires urgent attention.

What Is Shingles Disease?

Shingles is caused by the herpes zoster virus   the same virus responsible for chickenpox. After recovering from chickenpox, the virus remains dormant in the body, controlled by the immune system.

However, when immunity weakens due to ageing or chronic disease, the virus can reactivate, leading to shingles.

Shingles is not just a skin rash. It can be painful, disruptive, and debilitating. In ageing adults living with chronic conditions, its impact on quality of life can be severe. Globally, as populations age, the incidence of shingles continues to rise.

The Bidirectional Risk: Shingles and Chronic Disease

There is a bidirectional relationship between shingles and chronic diseases.

1. People with chronic conditions are more vulnerable to shingles and its complications.
   
   

2. Shingles itself can worsen existing chronic conditions.
   
   

One of the most serious complications of shingles is post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN). This persistent nerve pain can last for months or even years. It can interfere with sleep, mobility, daily activities, and mental well-being.

Additionally, shingles can trigger severe inflammatory responses in the body. A study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association shows that shingles is associated with an increased risk of stroke and major cardiac events. The virus can cause inflammation and release chemicals that irritate blood vessels, potentially weakening fatty plaques in arteries. If these plaques rupture, blood clots can form, leading to heart attacks or strokes.

For seniors with cardiovascular disease or diabetes, this risk becomes even more serious.

How Many People in India Are at Risk?

In India, more than 75 million older adults are living with at least one chronic condition, placing them at elevated risk of shingles, according to the Indian Vaccination Centre.

Despite this high risk, awareness remains low. The India Shingles Action Survey 2026 revealed concerning gaps:

• Nearly one in three adults over 50 with a chronic condition cannot explain why their condition increases their shingles risk.
  
  

• 24% report knowing little or nothing about shingles.
  
  

• 48% have never discussed shingles with their doctors.
  
  

• Awareness is particularly low among people with diabetes (24%) and cardiovascular disease (18%), who are also least likely to have spoken with their healthcare providers about shingles.
  
  

This highlights the urgent need for educational initiatives like SPEAKShingles Action Week 2026.

Is There a Cure for Shingles?

There is no definitive cure for shingles. Treatment focuses on managing symptoms and reducing complications. However, prevention is possible.

Vaccination is an effective preventive measure. By strengthening the immune response, vaccination helps the body fight infections such as shingles. For seniors and individuals with chronic conditions, prevention becomes especially critical because shingles can trigger complications far beyond the visible rash.

Making Prevention a Part of Routine Care

Given the rising burden of chronic disease in India and the clear evidence linking shingles to serious complications, prevention must become part of routine healthcare for ageing adults.

Seniors and people living with chronic illnesses should:

• Speak with their doctors about their personal risk.
  
  

• Discuss preventive options, including vaccination.
  
  

• Stay informed about complications such as PHN, stroke, and cardiac events.
  
  

SPEAKShingles Action Week 2026 serves as a reminder that shingles is not a minor illness for seniors with chronic diseases. Awareness, early conversation, and preventive action can significantly reduce suffering and improve quality of life.