Background Risk of herpes zoster (HZ) infection increases with age and immunosuppression. We estimated the impact of HZ and post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN) on direct costs and health care resource utilization (HCRU) in patients >= 50 years, including those with comorbidities, as limited information exists in Italy.Methods This retrospective analysis used reimbursement data from local health authorities in Italy (January 2009-June 2022). Cases of HZ and PHN identified by International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification codes and drug prescriptions were characterized and followed up for 1 year before and after the index date. The direct HCRU costs for patients with HZ/PHN were compared with those for patients without HZ/PHN.Results Of the total 193 259 patients with HZ/PHN identified (mean age, 61.6 years), 145 923 were >= 50 years old (immunocompromised: 29.9%; >= 1 chronic condition: 76.1%). During follow-up, 18.8% of patients >= 50 years of age with HZ progressed to PHN complications, and 3618 hospital admissions were reported (median length of stay, 9 days). Drug prescriptions and all-cause hospitalizations were the main contributors to total annual direct health care costs, estimated at M272 for patients with HZ/PHN, whose burden increased with age. Higher health care costs were observed in patients with HZ/PHN vs patients without HZ/PHN. Moreover, average health care costs were up to 4x higher for patients with HZ and PHN compared with those without PHN.Conclusions HZ causes a significant economic impact on the health care system, driven mainly by high costs of medications and hospitalizations among older adults and those with comorbidities, particularly when complicated by PHN.HZ causes significant economic impact on the health care system, driven mainly by high costs of medications and hospitalizations. As individuals age, this shows a sharp upward trend, particularly in those with comorbidities when complicated by PHN.
The Economic Burden of Herpes Zoster in Individuals Aged 50 Years or Older and Those With Underlying Conditions in Italy / Zarkadoulas, E., Comparoni, S., Freguja, R., Santacroce, R., Dovizio, M., Veronesi, C., Degli Esposti, L., Gentile, I., Bonanni, P., Rossi, A.. - In: OPEN FORUM INFECTIOUS DISEASES. - ISSN 2328-8957. - ELETTRONICO. - 12:(2025), pp. ofae738.0-ofae738.0. [10.1093/ofid/ofae738]
The Economic Burden of Herpes Zoster in Individuals Aged 50 Years or Older and Those With Underlying Conditions in Italy
Bonanni, P;
2025
Abstract
Background Risk of herpes zoster (HZ) infection increases with age and immunosuppression. We estimated the impact of HZ and post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN) on direct costs and health care resource utilization (HCRU) in patients >= 50 years, including those with comorbidities, as limited information exists in Italy.Methods This retrospective analysis used reimbursement data from local health authorities in Italy (January 2009-June 2022). Cases of HZ and PHN identified by International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification codes and drug prescriptions were characterized and followed up for 1 year before and after the index date. The direct HCRU costs for patients with HZ/PHN were compared with those for patients without HZ/PHN.Results Of the total 193 259 patients with HZ/PHN identified (mean age, 61.6 years), 145 923 were >= 50 years old (immunocompromised: 29.9%; >= 1 chronic condition: 76.1%). During follow-up, 18.8% of patients >= 50 years of age with HZ progressed to PHN complications, and 3618 hospital admissions were reported (median length of stay, 9 days). Drug prescriptions and all-cause hospitalizations were the main contributors to total annual direct health care costs, estimated at M272 for patients with HZ/PHN, whose burden increased with age. Higher health care costs were observed in patients with HZ/PHN vs patients without HZ/PHN. Moreover, average health care costs were up to 4x higher for patients with HZ and PHN compared with those without PHN.Conclusions HZ causes a significant economic impact on the health care system, driven mainly by high costs of medications and hospitalizations among older adults and those with comorbidities, particularly when complicated by PHN.HZ causes significant economic impact on the health care system, driven mainly by high costs of medications and hospitalizations. As individuals age, this shows a sharp upward trend, particularly in those with comorbidities when complicated by PHN.
I documenti in FLORE sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
