Table 1:

Epidemiologic, health care resource use and economic parameters

Parameter by age category, yr	Base value	Minimum	Maximum	References
Epidemiologic
Herpes zoster incidence, per 1000 person-years				Brisson et al.,21 Letellier et al.,25 Russell et al.,26 Tanuseputro et al.,27 Marra et al.28
50–54	3.8	3.525¶	4.226
55–64	6	5.125¶	6.926
65–74	8.6	7.325¶	10.026
≥ 75	9.9	8.025¶	11.826
Postherpetic neuralgia,* % of herpes zoster cases				Oxman et al.,10 Brisson et al.21
50–54	9.4	6.921	11.921
55–64	9.4	6.921	11.921
65–74	26	18.521	33.421
≥ 75	27.7	22.021	33.421
Case-fatality rate, %†				Edmunds et al., 4 Brisson et al.21
50–54	0	0.00021	0.00221
55–64	0	0.00021	0.00221
65–74	0.012	0.01221	0.08321
≥ 75	0.076	0.04021	0.08321
Health care resource use
Hospitalization, % of herpes zoster cases				Brisson et al.,3 Brisson et al.,21 Letellier et al.,25 Tanuseputro et al.27
50–54	1.1	0.521	1.621
55–64	1.6	0.721	2.521
65–74	3.3	1.521	5.121
≥ 75	9.9	4.121	15.621
Consultations, per herpes zoster case				Brisson et al.,21 Letellier et al.,25 Najafzadeh et al.29
50–54	1.7	1.021	2.421
55–64	2	1.021	2.921
65–74	2.3	1.021	3.521
≥ 75	2.6	1.021	4.221
Length of hospital stay, d, mean				Brisson et al.,21 Letellier et al.,25 Najafzadeh et al.29
50–54	9.3	5.821	12.721
55–64	11.1	6.221	14.729
65–74	12.6	8.321	16.529
≥ 75	18	12.421	23.729
Costs,‡ in 2018 Can$
Herpes zoster–related hospitalization, per day	91830	49521	148321	Brisson et al.,21 Najafzadeh et al.,29 Friesen et al.30
Herpes zoster–related consultations	2830	2430	11329	Brisson et al.,21 Najafzadeh et al.,29 Friesen et al.30
Treatment per herpes zoster episode	13630	5521	25529	Brisson et al.,21 Najafzadeh et al.,29 Friesen et al.30
Treatment per postherpetic neuralgia episode	158830	96930	270721	Brisson et al.,21 Najafzadeh et al.,29 Friesen et al.30
QALYs lost§
Herpes zoster				Drolet et al.,11 Brisson et al.,21 Brisson et al.31
50–59	0.009	0.00631	0.01231
60–69	0.01	0.00631	0.01331
≥ 70	0.01	0.00731	0.01431
Postherpetic neuralgia				Drolet et al.,11 Brisson et al.,21 Brisson et al.31
50–59	0.041	0.03231	0.05231
60–69	0.192	0.10331	0.29031
≥ 70	0.234	0.19131	0.29031

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.