Table 1:

Epidemiologic, health care resource use and economic parameters

Parameter by age category, yrBase valueMinimumMaximumReferences
Epidemiologic
Herpes zoster incidence, per 1000 person-yearsBrisson et al.,21 Letellier et al.,25 Russell et al.,26 Tanuseputro et al.,27 Marra et al.28
 50–543.83.5254.226
 55–6465.1256.926
 65–748.67.32510.026
 ≥ 759.98.02511.826
Postherpetic neuralgia,* % of herpes zoster casesOxman et al.,10 Brisson et al.21
 50–549.46.92111.921
 55–649.46.92111.921
 65–742618.52133.421
 ≥ 7527.722.02133.421
Case-fatality rate, %†Edmunds et al., 4 Brisson et al.21
 50–5400.000210.00221
 55–6400.000210.00221
 65–740.0120.012210.08321
 ≥ 750.0760.040210.08321
Health care resource use
Hospitalization, % of herpes zoster casesBrisson et al.,3 Brisson et al.,21 Letellier et al.,25 Tanuseputro et al.27
 50–541.10.5211.621
 55–641.60.7212.521
 65–743.31.5215.121
 ≥ 759.94.12115.621
Consultations, per herpes zoster caseBrisson et al.,21 Letellier et al.,25 Najafzadeh et al.29
 50–541.71.0212.421
 55–6421.0212.921
 65–742.31.0213.521
 ≥ 752.61.0214.221
Length of hospital stay, d, meanBrisson et al.,21 Letellier et al.,25 Najafzadeh et al.29
 50–549.35.82112.721
 55–6411.16.22114.729
 65–7412.68.32116.529
 ≥ 751812.42123.729
Costs,‡ in 2018 Can$
Herpes zoster–related hospitalization, per day9183049521148321Brisson et al.,21 Najafzadeh et al.,29 Friesen et al.30
Herpes zoster–related consultations2830243011329Brisson et al.,21 Najafzadeh et al.,29 Friesen et al.30
Treatment per herpes zoster episode13630552125529Brisson et al.,21 Najafzadeh et al.,29 Friesen et al.30
Treatment per postherpetic neuralgia episode15883096930270721Brisson et al.,21 Najafzadeh et al.,29 Friesen et al.30
QALYs lost§
Herpes zosterDrolet et al.,11 Brisson et al.,21 Brisson et al.31
 50–590.0090.006310.01231
 60–690.010.006310.01331
 ≥ 700.010.007310.01431
Postherpetic neuralgiaDrolet et al.,11 Brisson et al.,21 Brisson et al.31
 50–590.0410.032310.05231
 60–690.1920.103310.29031
 ≥ 700.2340.191310.29031

  • Note: base value = mean of minimum and maximum values identified in literature, maximum = maximum values identified in literature, minimum = minimum values identified in literature, QALY = quality-adjusted life-year.

  • ↵* Postherpetic neuralgia was defined as clinically significant pain persisting for more than 90 days after onset of rash.

  • ↵† Given the scarcity of data on herpes zoster–related mortality in Canada, we used case-fatality values estimated in a previous study in England and Wales.4

  • ↵‡ Values from Friesen and colleagues30 were used as the base values.

  • ↵§ This variable captures, in a single measure, morbidity and mortality associated with a disease. Data for QALYs lost were obtained by measuring QALY-weight (or disutility), ranging from 0 to 1, where a weight of 1 corresponds to optimal health and a weight of 0 corresponds to a health state judged as equivalent to death. The QALY lost per case is the difference in QALY weights with and without the disease, multiplied by duration of the disease. The QALY weights were taken from MASTER, a pan-Canadian, multicentre 6-month prospective study, which recruited patients aged ≥ 50 years who presented with herpes zoster or postherpetic neuralgia, as described by Drolet and colleagues11 and Brisson and colleagues.31 Calculation of QALY lost is explained in detail by Brisson and colleagues.21

  • ↵ Letellier and colleages25 did not present data by specific age groups, but we had access to the original data from Quebec administrative databases (2001 to 2015); for the purposes of our analysis, we estimated the incidence of herpes zoster by age groups.