HEALTHCARE RESOURCE UTILIZATION AND ECONOMIC BURDEN OF HERPES ZOSTER IN IMMUNOCOMPETENT OLDER ADULTS IN THE UNITED STATES: A RETROSPECTIVE COHORT STUDY
Author(s)
Justin D. Carrico, MS1, Yan Wang, ScD2, Keith A. Betts, PhD2, Aozhou Wu, PhD2, Shuang Wang, PhD3, Tszshan Ma, PhD3, Rita Campos, PharmD1, Pooja Joshi, MD4, Nikita Stempniewicz, MSc1;
1GSK, Philadelphia, PA, USA, 2Analysis Group, Los Angeles, CA, USA, 3Analysis Group, Boston, MA, USA, 4GSK, Redmond, WA, USA
1GSK, Philadelphia, PA, USA, 2Analysis Group, Los Angeles, CA, USA, 3Analysis Group, Boston, MA, USA, 4GSK, Redmond, WA, USA
OBJECTIVES: Estimate healthcare resource utilization (HCRU) and costs associated with herpes zoster (HZ) and HZ-related complications in immunocompetent adults aged ≥50 years.
METHODS: This retrospective cohort study used 2015-2024 claims data from Optum’s de‐identified Market Clarity Data. Patients aged ≥50 years at HZ diagnosis (index date), without immunocompromising conditions or medications, with continuous enrollment for 12 months before (baseline period) and after HZ diagnosis, without HZ diagnoses during baseline, and without recorded HZ vaccination were included. Controls without HZ were matched 1:1 to patients with HZ based on age, sex, immunocompetency, and index date. Incremental all-cause HCRU and costs (2024 USD) associated with HZ were estimated in 1-, 3-, and 12-month periods post-index, overall and by age group, using multivariable regressions to control for differences in demographic characteristics, clinical characteristics, and baseline HCRU and costs. Incremental costs attributable to HZ-related complications (compared to HZ without complications) were estimated with linear regression models.
RESULTS: The HZ cohort (n=261,154) and controls had a mean age of 65.6 years; 63.6% were female. In the first month post-diagnosis, the HZ cohort had higher rates of hospitalizations (adjusted incidence rate ratio [aIRR]: 3.2 [95% confidence interval [CI]: 3.0-3.3]), emergency department visits (aIRR: 4.9 [95% CI: 4.7-5.0]), and mean total healthcare costs (adjusted incremental costs: $1,960 [95% CI: $1,888-$2,031]) compared with controls. One-month mean incremental costs increased from $1,235 (95% CI: $1,148-$1,323) in ages 50-59 years to $3,850 (95% CI: $3,607-$4,093) in ages ≥80 years. Incremental burden remained significant over the 3-month and 12-month follow-up periods. HZ cases with postherpetic neuralgia incurred significantly higher 12-month costs than HZ cases without complications (adjusted incremental costs: $9,908 [95% CI: $8,493-$11,323]).
CONCLUSIONS: In immunocompetent adults aged ≥50 years, HZ and its complications result in substantial economic burden, underscoring the importance of HZ prevention in this population. Funding: GSK (VEO-001185).
METHODS: This retrospective cohort study used 2015-2024 claims data from Optum’s de‐identified Market Clarity Data. Patients aged ≥50 years at HZ diagnosis (index date), without immunocompromising conditions or medications, with continuous enrollment for 12 months before (baseline period) and after HZ diagnosis, without HZ diagnoses during baseline, and without recorded HZ vaccination were included. Controls without HZ were matched 1:1 to patients with HZ based on age, sex, immunocompetency, and index date. Incremental all-cause HCRU and costs (2024 USD) associated with HZ were estimated in 1-, 3-, and 12-month periods post-index, overall and by age group, using multivariable regressions to control for differences in demographic characteristics, clinical characteristics, and baseline HCRU and costs. Incremental costs attributable to HZ-related complications (compared to HZ without complications) were estimated with linear regression models.
RESULTS: The HZ cohort (n=261,154) and controls had a mean age of 65.6 years; 63.6% were female. In the first month post-diagnosis, the HZ cohort had higher rates of hospitalizations (adjusted incidence rate ratio [aIRR]: 3.2 [95% confidence interval [CI]: 3.0-3.3]), emergency department visits (aIRR: 4.9 [95% CI: 4.7-5.0]), and mean total healthcare costs (adjusted incremental costs: $1,960 [95% CI: $1,888-$2,031]) compared with controls. One-month mean incremental costs increased from $1,235 (95% CI: $1,148-$1,323) in ages 50-59 years to $3,850 (95% CI: $3,607-$4,093) in ages ≥80 years. Incremental burden remained significant over the 3-month and 12-month follow-up periods. HZ cases with postherpetic neuralgia incurred significantly higher 12-month costs than HZ cases without complications (adjusted incremental costs: $9,908 [95% CI: $8,493-$11,323]).
CONCLUSIONS: In immunocompetent adults aged ≥50 years, HZ and its complications result in substantial economic burden, underscoring the importance of HZ prevention in this population. Funding: GSK (VEO-001185).
Conference/Value in Health Info
2026-05, ISPOR 2026, Philadelphia, PA, USA
Value in Health, Volume 29, Issue S6
Code
EE123
Topic
Economic Evaluation
Topic Subcategory
Cost/Cost of Illness/Resource Use Studies
Disease
SDC: Infectious Disease (non-vaccine)