Background: A thorough epidemiological surveillance and a good understanding of the burden of diseases associated to VZV are crucial to asses any potential impact of a prevention strategy. A population-based retrospective epidemiological study to estimate the burden of herpes zoster requiring hospitalization in Spain was conducted.
Methods: This study was conducted by using data from the national surveillance system for hospital data, Conjunto Mínimo Básico de Datos (CMBD). Records of all patients admitted to hospital with a diagnosis of herpes zoster (ICD-9-MC codes 053.0-053.9) during a 7-year period (1998-2004) were selected.
Results: A total of 23,584 hospitalizations with a primary or secondary diagnosis of herpes zoster in patients > or = 30 years of age were identified during the study period. Annually there were 13.4 hospitalizations for herpes zoster per 100,000 population in patients > or = 30 years of age. The rate increases with age reaching a maximum in persons > or = 80 years of age (54.3 admissions per 100,000 population >80 years of age). The mean cost of a hospitalization for herpes zoster in adult patients was 3,720 euro. The estimated annual cost of hospitalizations for herpes zoster in patients > or = 30 years of age in Spain was 12,731,954 euro.
Conclusion: Herpes zoster imposes an important burden of hospitalizations and result in large cost expenses to the Spanish National Health System, especially in population older than 50 years of age.