OBJECTIVES

: To estimate the healthcare resource utilization (HRU) and direct medical cost of herpes zoster (HZ) and its complications in Japanese patients with immunocompromised (IC) conditions.

METHODS

: This was a retrospective study using the Japan Medical Data Center claims database. HZ patients aged over 18 years old (up to 74 years old included in the database) and diagnosed from April 2012 to January 2014 with IC conditions (malignancy, transplantation, or autoimmune diseases) were extracted. The patients were observed for up to 12 months or until the next event of HZ. HZ was defined by diagnostic codes and usage of anti-herpetic drugs. Descriptive statistics was performed to estimate HRU and medical costs in Japanese Yen (JPY).

RESULTS

: The study population comprised 224 HZ patients with the mean (SD) age of 48.4 (11.5) and 42.4% of male. HZ complications occurred in 11.2% (postherpetic neuralgia [PHN]) and 16.5% (other than PHN). The mean number (SD) of outpatient visits per HZ event was 5.0 (5.7). This number was increased by aging and existence of HZ complications. Fifteen (6.7%) patients experienced hospitalization with the mean (SD) duration of 9.1 (6.3) days. The mean (SD) direct medical cost was 55,201JPY (92,643). The main cost drivers were hospital admission fees and prescription costs. The mean costs were higher in HZ with PHN (156,016JPY) or in HZ with complications other than PHN (81,964JPY), than in HZ without any complications (33,531JPY).

CONCLUSIONS

: This is the first study of the economic burden of HZ and its complications in Japanese patients with IC conditions. The results demonstrated that the HRU and costs are higher in HZ with its complications than in HZ without any complications, arising from increases in hospitalization and prescription costs.