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Epidemiology and cost of herpes zoster and postherpetic neuralgia in Germany

Author

Listed:
  • Bernhard Ultsch
  • Ingrid Köster
  • Thomas Reinhold
  • Anette Siedler
  • Gérard Krause
  • Andrea Icks
  • Ingrid Schubert
  • Ole Wichmann

Abstract

After acquiring a varicella virus infection, the virus can reactivate and cause herpes zoster (HZ)—a painful skin rash. A complication of HZ is long-term persistence of pain after the rash has resolved (so-called postherpetic neuralgia, PHN). We aimed to describe the epidemiology of HZ/PHN and to estimate HZ/PHN-related costs in the German statutory health insurance (SHI) system (~85 % of the total population). Treatment data of one large SHI was utilized, containing data on approximately 240,000 insured and their utilisation of services in 2004–2009. Identification of HZ- and PHN-cases was performed based on ‘International Statistical Classification of Diseases’ and specific medications using a control-group design. Incidences per 1,000 person-years (PY) and cost-of-illness for 1 year following HZ-onset considering the payer and societal perspective were calculated. All amounts were inflated to 2010 Euros. Population-figures were standardised and extrapolated to the total SHI-population in Germany in 2010. A mean annual incidence of 5.79 HZ-cases per 1,000 PY was observed, translating into an estimated 403,625 HZ-cases per year in the total SHI-population. Approximately 5 % of HZ-cases developed PHN. One HZ-case caused on average €210 and €376 of costs from the payer and societal perspective, respectively. The development of PHN generated additional costs of €1,123 (€1,645 societal perspective). Total annual HZ/PHN-related costs were estimated at €182 million (€105 million) to society (payer). HZ and PHN place a considerable burden on the German SHI-system. Since HZ-vaccines will soon be available, a health-economic evaluation of these vaccines should be conducted. Copyright Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2013

Suggested Citation

  • Bernhard Ultsch & Ingrid Köster & Thomas Reinhold & Anette Siedler & Gérard Krause & Andrea Icks & Ingrid Schubert & Ole Wichmann, 2013. "Epidemiology and cost of herpes zoster and postherpetic neuralgia in Germany," The European Journal of Health Economics, Springer;Deutsche Gesellschaft für Gesundheitsökonomie (DGGÖ), vol. 14(6), pages 1015-1026, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:eujhec:v:14:y:2013:i:6:p:1015-1026
    DOI: 10.1007/s10198-012-0452-1
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Jonas Schreyögg & Oliver Tiemann & Reinhard Busse, 2006. "Cost accounting to determine prices: How well do prices reflect costs in the German DRG-system?," Health Care Management Science, Springer, vol. 9(3), pages 269-279, August.
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Herpes zoster; Postherpetic neuralgia; Epidemiology; Cost of illness; Germany; C81; I11; I13; I19; J14;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C81 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Data Collection and Data Estimation Methodology; Computer Programs - - - Methodology for Collecting, Estimating, and Organizing Microeconomic Data; Data Access
    • I11 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Analysis of Health Care Markets
    • I13 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health Insurance, Public and Private
    • I19 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Other
    • J14 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of the Elderly; Economics of the Handicapped; Non-Labor Market Discrimination

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