A new global survey, launched ahead of Shingles Action Week (23 February – 1 March 2026) highlights the significant impact of shingles on adults aged 50 and above living with certain chronic health conditions in India, and reveals major gaps in prevention-related conversations.
The survey, commissioned by GSK, shows that 43% of Indian participants who have had shingles reported severe, day-disrupting pain, with over one in three reporting that it stopped them from working or attending social events. Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) and Cardiovascular disease (CVD) experienced the greatest disruption, while diabetes and CVD patients reported the highest emotional toll.
Shingles is a painful and impairing disease caused by the reactivation of the varicella-zoster virus (VZV), the same virus that causes chickenpox. As people age, the strength of the immune system response to infection decreases, increasing the risk of developing shingles. Shingles typically begins as a rash on one side, with painful blisters erupting on the chest, abdomen or face. Shingles can be prevented only through vaccination.
The survey also highlights that despite being at risk of shingles and its complications, nearly one in four participants with certain chronic health conditions, know little to nothing about shingles and nearly one in three are unable to explain how their chronic condition may increase their risk of shingles.
This points to why conversations around shingles are often missing from routine visits among older adults living with certain chronic conditions. Nearly 75% of Indian participants aged 50 years and above with certain chronic health conditions report visiting their doctor regularly, yet nearly half (48%) say they have never discussed shingles with a doctor. Respondents living with diabetes (49%) and CVD (37%) are the least likely to have discussed shingles with their doctors.
The findings of the survey also point to misconceptions that may be holding back patients from taking action. Nearly one in five participants believe that their chronic condition does not affect their immune system or increase their risk of shingles, while over a third assume that good chronic disease management alone protects them from the infection. This lack of perceived risk is reflected in the experience of those who developed shingles, with over one in four (26%) saying they did not expect shingles to be so serious.
Dr. Shalini Menon, Executive Vice President – Medical Affairs, GSK India, said: “India is living longer but not necessarily healthier. As people age, they are more likely to be affected by non-communicable diseases like diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, kidney diseases and lung disease.
These conditions place additional strain on an already weakening immune system of ageing adults, further impairing the body’s ability to fight infections. Yet the survey reveals limited awareness about the link between chronic conditions and immune health among ageing adults. This underscores an urgent and growing need for patients to have regular, informed conversations with their doctors.”
This absence of prevention-focused dialogue is especially concerning at a time when global ageing trends are already reshaping the shingles burden. Global data from Japan, which has a large ageing population, illustrates the scale of the challenge ahead. In 2020, Japan’s adults aged 65 and above accounted for nearly 29% of its population, a demographic shift that coincided with a more than 50% rise in shingles cases across that population. The growing public health impact led Japan to incorporate shingles vaccination in its immunisation protocols in certain provinces, targeting elderly individuals aged 65 and older.
India is on a similar demographic trajectory. The country’s population aged over 60, currently estimated at 153 million, is expected to more than double to 347 million by 2050. This ageing shift is already being reflected in the country’s health profile. More than 75 million older adults are living with at least one chronic condition, while 27% are managing multiple long-term illnesses, including diabetes (~20%) and cardiovascular diseases (29%). Together, advancing age and chronic disease are set to place a rapidly growing number of Indians at an elevated risk of shingles.
Beyond health outcomes, the convergence of ageing and chronic disease carries economic implications for India’s USD 5 trillion growth ambition.These lead to healthcare costs, productivity losses and long-term care needs. which are avoidable. With healthcare expenses largely out-of-pocket and with more than three-fourths of ageing adults (~78%) without pension or financial protection, the burden falls heavily on families.
As India prepares for an ageing population, shifting from reactive care to prevention must become a national priority. The survey findings demonstrate the need to make adult vaccinations including shingles a routine part of adult health discussions, especially for those living with chronic conditions.
As the survey shows, hearing about shingles from a doctor (38%) or from someone they know who had the condition (41%) was essential for the respondents to start more informed conversations about risk, prevention, and the potential impact of shingles on everyday life. These conversations can help reduce avoidable suffering, protect quality of life, and ease the long-term burden on the healthcare system.
