| Herpes simplex virus (HSV) is among the most common sexually transmitted pathogens in the United States. HSV has a high incidence of undetected cases, there is no treatment, and current prevention programs have not been consistently effective in curtailing the spread of HSV. The impact of obesity on susceptibility to HSV infection is not clear. This study was driven by a biomedical model that assumes that adipose tissue actively participates in the body's immune responses and enables increased viral entry. The purpose of this study was to examine whether obesity is a risk factor for HSV infection using a large sample from the general population. This study used data from the National Health and Examination and Nutritional Examination Survey (NHANES) from 2007-2008. The two-tailed Pearson's chi square, student's t test, and a multiple logistic regression analysis were applied to evaluate associations using a significance value of p ≤ 0.05. Adjusted odds ratios with 95%confidence interval represented the degree of these associations. Obesity was associated with HSV1 infection, and this association was stronger than associations with three already established risk factors of age, female gender, and poverty level. No significant association was observed between obesity and HSV2 infection. This study has a potential for social change because it provides evidence that obesity should be considered when designing preventive measures. Findings from this study may help to explain mechanisms why some people may acquire HSV infections and some do not, and results may also contribute to the decision making process when addressing public health interventions and designing prevention programs focusing on HSV infections. |
