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Healthcare burden

Herpes zoster (shingles) places a considerable burden on healthcare resources:

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Shingles costs healthcare systems in England and Wales around GBP£17.3 million annually, of which £11.5 million is general practice-related costs, according to a 2009 study1

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Costs associated with shingles management increase with the level of pain – patients with severe shingles-associated pain incurred more than double the costs of patients without pain, taking into account primary care, secondary care and medications2

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There are an estimated 1750 hospitalisations for shingles in those aged over 60 years each year in England and Wales, according to a 2009 study1

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Complications of shingles that may lead to hospitalisation include post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN), encephalitis, meningitis, and ocular complications.3 Each year in the UK, over 1400 people are admitted to hospital because of PHN4

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A 2019 study in England reported the percentage of shingles cases requiring hospitalisation was higher in individuals who were immunocompromised (IC) than those who were IC-free (2.7% vs 0.4% in IC and IC-free individuals aged 18–49 years, respectively, and 9.5% vs 7.5% in IC and IC-free individuals aged ≥80 years, respectively)5

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Shingles-related mean treatment costs for hospitalised patients were higher in IC individuals (£189 vs £104 in IC and IC-free individuals aged 18–49 years, respectively, and £557 vs £401 in IC and IC-free individuals aged ≥80 years, respectively), according to a study in England from 2019. Costs varied considerably by IC condition5

Shingles-related hospitalisations contribute to the burden of disease on patients and their families3,5

Find out more

Immunocompromised status and shingles

Patients who are immunocompromised are at a higher risk of developing shingles. Read more about disease burden in this group

References

  1. van Hoek AJ et al. Estimating the cost-effectiveness of vaccination against herpes zoster in England and Wales. Vaccine 2009;27:1454-1467.
  2. Gauthier A et al. Epidemiology and cost of herpes zoster and post-herpetic neuralgia in the United Kingdom. Epidemiol Infect 2009;137:38-47.
  3. Johnson RW et al. The impact of herpes zoster and post-herpetic neuralgia on quality-of-life. BMC Med 2010;8:37.
  4. UK Health Security Agency. There’s a vaccine to help protect you from the pain of shingles. https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/64e35c8f3309b7000d1c9bb7/UKHSA_12644_A5_Shingles_12pp_leaflet_14_WEB.pdf (accessed February 2024).
  5. Curran D et al. Herpes zoster related healthcare burden and costs in immunocompromised (IC) and IC-free populations in England: An observational retrospective database analysis. BMJ Open 2019;9:e023502.

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July 2024 | NP-GB-HZU-WCNT-240012 (V1.0)