New herpes zoster virus epidemiology findings from A. Gauthier and co-researchers published
February 10th, 2009
2009 FEB 10 -- New investigation results, 'Epidemiology and cost of herpes zoster and post-herpetic neuralgia in the United Kingdom,' are detailed in a study published in Epidemiology and Infection. "Recent information on epidemiology and management of herpes zoster (HZ) and post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN), a painful complication of HZ, is scarce. The objective of this study was to document the burden of HZ and PHN in the United Kingdom," researchers in Uxbridge, the United Kingdom report.
"This retrospective analysis of the UK General Practice Research Database aimed to estimate HZ incidence and proportion of HZ patients developing PHN and to assess management costs in immunocompetent individuals aged 50 years. A cohort of 27 225 HZ patients was selected, corresponding to an incidence of 5.23/1000 person-years. Respectively 19.5% and 13.7% of patients developed PHN at least 1 and 3 months after HZ diagnosis. Mean direct cost was pound103 per HZ patient and pound341 and pound397 per PHN episode (1-and 3-month definition respectively). Both HZ and PHN costs increased markedly with pain severity," wrote A. Gauthier and colleagues, .
The researchers concluded: "This study confirms that HZ and PHN are frequent and costly diseases in the United Kingdom."
Gauthier and colleagues published their study in Epidemiology and Infection (Epidemiology and cost of herpes zoster and post-herpetic neuralgia in the United Kingdom. Epidemiology and Infection, 2009;137(1):38-47).
For additional information, contact A. Gauthier, i3 Innovus, Uxbridge, Middlesex, UK.
Publisher contact information for the journal Epidemiology and Infection is: Cambridge University Press, 32 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10013-2473.
