Epidemiology of herpes simplex virus type 1 in the United States: Systematic review, meta-analyses, and meta-regressions

Abstract

This study aimed to analytically describe the epidemiology of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) infection in the United States through a systematic review and meta-analytics. We reviewed 159 publications, identifying 190 seroprevalence measures and 43 proportions of HSV-1 detection in genital herpes. The pooled mean HSV-1 seroprevalence was 38.0% (95% CI: 30.9–45.4) among general-population children and 63.5% (95% CI: 61.3–65.7) among general-population adults. Age explained 43% of the seroprevalence variation, with rates increasing progressively with age. Seroprevalence declined by 0.99-fold (95% CI: 0.99–0.99) per year. The pooled mean proportion of HSV-1 detection in genital herpes was 15.4% (95% CI: 10.8–20.6), increasing by 1.02-fold (95% CI: 1.00–1.04) per year. Recurrent genital herpes had a 0.17-fold (95% CI: 0.09–0.32) lower proportion of HSV-1 detection compared to first-episode cases. The epidemiology of HSV-1 is shifting, marked by a decline in oral acquisition during childhood and an increase in genital acquisition during adulthood.