Table 1 Demographic and clinical characteristics of enrolled participants

Gender

Male

6 (42.9)

6 (40.0)

5 (33.3)

6 (42.9)

0.946†

Female

8 (57.1)

9 (60.0)

10 (66.7)

8 (57.1)

Age (years)

68.50 (52.50–79.50)

69.00 (59.00–79.00)

62.00 (49.00–70.00)

58.50 (51.75-79.00)

0.826‡

Pain duration (weeks)

8.00 (6.75–13.75)

5.00 (5.00–12.00)

7.00 (4.00–13.00)

7.00 (4.00–21.00)

0.645‡

Dermatomal distribution

Trigeminal

2 (14.3)

4 (26.7)

3 (20.1)

2 (14.3)

0.939

Cervical

2 (14.3)

2 (13.3)

2 (13.3)

2 (14.3)

Thoracic

8 (57.1)

6 (40.0)

5 (33.3)

8 (57.1)

Lumbar

2 (14.3)

3 (20.0)

5 (33.3)

2 (14.3)

Rash severity

Mild (< 25 lesions)

4 (28.6)

7 (46.7)

5 (33.3)

5 (35.7)

0.767

Moderate (25–50 lesions)

9 (64.3)

5 (33.3)

8 (53.3)

8 (57.1)

Severe (> 50 lesions)

1 (7.1)

3 (20.0)

2 (13.3)

1 (7.1)

Medications

Tricyclic antidepressant

11 (78.6)

7 (46.7)

9 (60.0)

6 (42.9)

0.212†

Anticonvulsant

14 (100.0)

14 (93.3)

13 (86.7)

14 (100.0)

0.605

Analgesic

11 (78.6)

14 (93.3)

12 (80.0)

13 (92.9)

0.578

5% lidocaine patch

3 (21.4)

2 (13.3)

3 (20.0)

2 (14.3)

0.967

Hypertension

Yes

4 (28.6)

8 (53.3)

9 (60.0)

5 (35.7)

0.284†

No

10 (71.4)

7 (46.7)

6 (40.0)

9 (64.3)

Diabetes mellitus

Yes

1 (7.1)

2 (13.3)

4 (26.7)

1 (7.1)

0.490

No

13 (92.9)

13 (86.7)

11 (73.3)

13 (92.9)

Hepatitis

Yes

0 (0.0)

1 (6.7)

0 (0.0)

1 (7.1)

0.864

No

14 (100.0)

14 (93.3)

15 (100.0)

13 (92.9)

Tuberculosis

Yes

0 (0.0)

0 (0.0)

2 (13.3)

1 (7.1)

0.503

No

14 (100.0)

15 (100.0)

13 (86.7)

13 (92.9)

BDI score

8.21 ± 4.96

12.13 ± 8.12

11.73 ± 7.61

9.50 ± 6.32

0.379^§