Use of health care resources for varicella in the paediatric population, Jordan.

BACKGROUND: The exact burden of varicella is not well quantified in Jordan. AIMS: This study aimed to estimate the varicella burden in paediatric patients in Jordan who sought care in a hospital-based setting. METHODS: This was a multicentre, retrospective review of medical records of patients aged 0-14 years with a primary varicella diagnosis in Jordan between 2013 and 2018. The data assessed were: use of health care resources for varicella (outpatient and inpatient visits, tests and procedures, and medication use), and clinical complications of the infection. Estimated costs were based on health care resources used (direct costs) and lost revenue to the child's caregiver (indirect costs) for outpatients and inpatients. RESULTS: In total, 140 children with varicella were included: 78 outpatients, mean age (standard deviation) 4.4 (3.2) years, and 62 inpatients, mean age 4.0 (3.8) years. No outpatients had varicella-related complications, while 32 (52%) inpatients had ≥ 1 complication. The use of health care resources was higher for inpatients than outpatients, including prescription medication use - 94% of inpatients versus 6% of outpatients. Total costs of varicella were estimated at US$ 66.1 (95% CI: 64.1-68.1) per outpatient and US$ 914.7 (95% CI: 455.6-1373.9) per inpatient. CONCLUSIONS: Varicella is associated with considerable use of health care resources in Jordan and may be responsible for annual costs of US$ 11.5 million. These results support universal varicella vaccination in Jordan.

Burden of genital warts in Colombia: an observational study / Carga das verrugas genitais na Colômbia: um estudo observacional

Introduction: Genital warts are benign lesions caused by sexual transmission of human papillomavirus types 6 and 11, with significant impact on healthcare resource use and patients' quality of life. Objective: To describe the epidemiology of genital warts in adults visiting a physician office for any reason, physician practice patterns, and healthcare resource use and costs in Colombia. Methods: Participants were a convenience sample of 53 physicians in 5 specialties: primary care (15), gynecology (24), urology (12), proctology (1), and dermatology (1). Physicians completed a survey and daily log of all patients 18-60 years old seen over 10 days in their practices in 2016-2017. The physician survey recorded genital warts consultation and management patterns. The daily log recorded patient demographic information and genital warts diagnosis. Results: Among 6,393 patients logged by physicians, the genital warts prevalence was 2.03% (95%CI 1.69­2.38) and incidence 1.30% (95%CI 1.02­1.58). Primary care physicians referred most of their genital warts cases for treatment (female: mean 63.3%, SD=44.8; male: mean 58.3%, SD=43.8). Treatment of non-resistant episodes (<6-month duration) lasted an average of 37.4 days (SD=29.4) and required an average of 4.0 (SD=1.9) office visits for females and 3.0 (SD=1.7) for males. The overall mean cost of an episode of care was USD558.13 (SD=507.30). Conclusion: Genital warts cases reported by most participant physicians were mainly direct-consult, but patients were typically treated by specialists. Much of the genital warts health care utilization and costs reported could be prevented by immunization with the quadrivalent or nonavalent HPV vaccine.

Introdução: As verrugas genitais são lesões benignas, de transmissão sexual, causadas pelo papilomavírus humano tipos 6 e 11 e que causam impacto significativo no uso de recursos de saúde e na qualidade de vida dos pacientes. Objetivo: Descrever a epidemiologia das verrugas genitais em adultos que buscaram atendimento médico ambulatorial por qualquer motivo, incluindo padrões de prática médica, uso de recursos de saúde e custos na Colômbia. Métodos: foi utilizada uma amostra de conveniência composta por 53 médicos em 5 especialidades: clínico geral (15), ginecologia (24), urologia (12), proctologia (1) e dermatologia (1). Os médicos completaram um questionário e registros diários de todos os pacientes com idade entre 18 e 60 anos atendidos durante 10 dias em seus consultórios em 2016-2017. O questionário registrou os padrões de prática médica e de tratamento de verrugas genitais. Os registros diários continham informações demográficas do paciente e o diagnóstico de verrugas genitais. Resultados: Entre 6.393 atendimentos médicos, a prevalência das verrugas genitais foi de 2,03% (IC95% 1,69­2,38) e a incidência de 1,30% (IC95% 1,02­1,58). Os clínicos gerais encaminharam a maioria dos pacientes com verrugas genitais para tratamento (mulheres: média de 63,3%, DP=44,8; homens: média de 58,3%, DP=43,8). O tratamento dos casos não-persistentes (<6 meses de duração) durou em média 37,4 dias (DP=29,4) e requereu uma média de 4,0 (DP=1,9) consultas para mulheres e 3,0 (DP=1,7) para homens. O custo médio geral do tratamento foi de US$ 558,13 (SD=507,30). Conclusão: Os casos de verrugas genitais relatados pela maioria dos médicos participantes derivaram-se principalmente de atendimentos primários e os pacientes foram tratados geralmente por especialistas. Grande parte da utilização de recursos e custos relacionados a verrugas genitais poderia ser evitada pela imunização com a vacina papilomavírus humano 4-valente ou 9-valente.

The Impact of Varicella Vaccination on the Incidence of Varicella and Herpes Zoster in the United States: Updated Evidence From Observational Databases, 1991-2016.

BACKGROUND: Universal childhood vaccination against varicella began in the United States as a 1-dose schedule in 1996, changing to a 2-dose schedule in 2006. The exogenous boosting hypothesis, which postulates that reexposure to circulating wild-type varicella delays the onset of herpes zoster, predicts a transient increase in the incidence of herpes zoster, peaking in adults 15-35 years after the start of varicella vaccination. METHODS: This was a retrospective study of administrative claims data from the MarketScan Commercial and Medicare databases between 1991-2016. Outcome measures were the incidences of herpes zoster per 100 000 person-years, by calendar year and age category, and the annual rates of change in herpes zoster by age category, in an interrupted time series regression analysis, for the periods of 1991-1995 (prevaccine), 1996-2006 (1-dose vaccination period), and 2007-2016 (2-dose vaccination period). RESULTS: The annual incidences of herpes zoster increased throughout the period of 1991-2012 in all adult age categories, with a plateau in 2013-2016 that was most evident in the ≥65 age group. In 1991-1995, the herpes zoster incidences increased at annual rates of 4-6% in age categories 18-34, 35-44, 45-54, and 55-64 years. In the same age categories during 1996-2006 and 2007-2016, the herpes zoster incidences increased at annual rates of 1-5%. CONCLUSIONS: Although the annual incidence of herpes zoster in adults has continued to increase, the rates of change decreased during both the 1- and 2-dose vaccination periods. The hypothesized increase in herpes zoster predicted from modelling of the exogenous boosting hypothesis was not observed.

Burden of genital warts in Ecuador: an observational study in the practice of physicians / Carga das verrugas genitais no Equador: estudo observacional sobre a clínica médica

Introduction: Human papillomavirus types 6 and 11 cause 90% of genital warts. Although the epidemiology of cervical cancer and the distribution of human papillomavirus genotypes have been investigated in Ecuador, little is known about the occurrence of genital warts. Objective: To estimate the incidence and prevalence of genital warts among patients routinely presenting at the practice of physicians, describe the demographics of genital warts cases and highlight the physician specialties that treat genital warts, including patterns of consultation and referral in Ecuador. Methods: Participants were a convenience sample of physicians who treat and/or diagnose genital warts in their practices. Physicians completed a daily log, recording the demographics and diagnosis of genital warts in all patients aged 18 to 60 years seen over 10 days in their practices. Physicians then completed a survey recording their practice characteristics and referral patterns of genital warts. Results: A sample of 105 physicians of different specialties participated in the study. Among 12,133 patients, the prevalence of genital warts was 5.5%, and the incidence, 3.7%. Prevalence was 6.9% in men, peaking at 12.6% in those aged from 25 to 29 years old. Prevalence was 5.1% for females, peaking at 6.5% in those aged from 30 to 34 years old. Most women were seen in direct consultations (75%) rather than by referral ones (24%). Most physicians (72%) treated females with genital warts, except for primary care physicians, who referred most cases (88%). Conclusion: Cases of genital warts are frequently encountered by physicians in Ecuador and are typically treated by specialists rather than primary care physicians.

Introdução: Os tipos 6 e 11 do papilomavírus humano causam 90% das verrugas genitais. Embora a epidemiologia do câncer do colo do útero e a distribuição dos genótipos do papilomavírus humano tenham sido investigadas no Equador, pouco se sabe sobre a ocorrência das verrugas genitais. Objetivo: Estimar a incidência e a prevalência das verrugas genitais em pacientes atendidos rotineiramente na clínica médica, descrever os dados demográficos dos casos de verrugas genitais e determinar as especialidades médicas que tratam as verrugas genitais, incluindo os padrões de consulta e encaminhamento no Equador. Métodos: Foi realizada uma amostragem por conveniência com médicos que tratavam e/ou diagnosticam verrugas genitais em sua clínica médica. Os médicos registraram as suas atividades cotidianas em um diário, anotando dados demográficos e diagnóstico de verrugas genitais de todos os pacientes com idade entre 18 e 60 anos atendidos durante 10 dias em suas clínicas. Posteriormente, os médicos responderam a uma pesquisa sobre as características da conduta tomada e os padrões de encaminhamento médico das verrugas genitais. Resultados: Uma amostra de 105 médicos de diferentes especialidades participou do estudo. Entre 12.133 pacientes, a prevalência de verrugas genitais foi de 5,5% e a incidência foi de 3,7%. A prevalência foi de 6,9% no sexo masculino, atingindo o valor máximo de 12,6% na faixa etária de 25 a 29 anos. A prevalência foi de 5,1% para o sexo feminino, alcançando 6,5% entre 30 e 34 anos. Na maior parte dos casos, as mulheres foram tratadas predominantemente pelo médico que realizou o primeiro atendimento (75%) e não por meio de encaminhamento a outra especialidade (24%). A maioria dos médicos (72%) tratou mulheres com verrugas genitais, exceto os médicos de atenção primária, que em geral encaminharam os casos (88%). Conclusão: Casos de verrugas genitais são frequentemente diagnosticados por médicos no Equador e são mais frequentemente tratados por especialistas do que por médicos de atenção primária.

The use of antibiotics in the treatment of pediatric varicella patients: real-world evidence from the multi-country MARVEL study in Latin America & Europe.

BACKGROUND: Varicella is a highly contagious childhood disease. Generally benign, serious complications necessitating antibiotic use may occur. The objective of this study was to characterize the rate, appropriateness and patterns of real-world antibiotic prescribing for management of varicella-associated complications, prior to universal varicella vaccination (UVV) implementation. METHODS: Pooled, post-hoc analysis of 5 international, multicenter, retrospective chart reviews studies (Argentina, Hungary, Mexico, Peru, Poland). Inpatient and outpatient primary pediatric (1-14 years) varicella cases, diagnosed between 2009 and 2016, were eligible. Outcomes, assessed descriptively, included varicella-associated complications and antibiotic use. Three antibiotic prescribing scenarios were defined based on complication profile in chart: evidence of microbiologically confirmed bacterial infection (Scenario A); insufficient evidence confirming microbiological confirmation (Scenario B); no evidence of microbiological confirmation (Scenario C). Stratification was performed by patient status (inpatient vs. outpatient) and country. RESULTS: Four hundred one outpatients and 386 inpatients were included. Mean (SD) outpatient age was 3.6 (2.8) years; inpatient age was 3.1 (2.8) years. Male gender was predominant. Overall, 12.2% outpatients reported ≥1 infectious complication, 3.7% ≥1 bacterial infection, and 0.5% ≥1 microbiologically confirmed infection; inpatient complication rates were 78.8, 33.2 and 16.6%, respectively. Antibiotics were prescribed to 12.7% of outpatients and 68.9% of inpatients. Among users, ß-lactamases (class), and clindamycin (agent), dominated prescriptions. Scenario A was assigned to 3.9% (outpatients) vs 13.2% (inpatients); Scenario B: 2.0% vs. 6.0%; Scenario C: 94.1% vs. 80.8%. CONCLUSIONS: High rates of infectious complications and antibiotic use are reported, with low rates of microbiological confirmation suggesting possible antibiotic misuse for management of varicella complications.

Carga económica de la varicela en niños en Perú, entre 2011 y 2016 / Economic Burden of Varicella in Children in Peru from 2011 to 2016

Objetivo: Describir las complicaciones más frecuentes y la carga económica asociada con la varicela en el Perú. Material y métodos: Estudio multicéntrico de revisión de historias clínicas de pacientes de 1 a 14 años con diagnóstico de varicela entre 2011 y 2016. El uso de recursos de atención médica (URAM) asociados con la varicela, los costos unitarios y la pérdida de trabajo se utilizaron para estimar los costos directos e indirectos, presentados en USD ($). Los datos de costos y URAM se combinaron con estimaciones de carga de enfermedad para calcular el costo total anual de la varicela en el Perú. Resultados: Se incluyeron un total de 179 niños con varicela (101 ambulatorios, 78 hospitalizados). Entre los pacientes ambulatorios, el 5,9 % presentó una o más complicaciones, en comparación con 96,2 % de pacientes hospitalizados. El URAM incluyó el uso de medicamentos de venta libre (72,3 % frente a 89,7 % de pacientes ambulatorios y hospitalizados, respectivamente), medicamentos con receta (30,7 % frente a 94,9 %) y análisis y procedimientos (0,0 % frente a 80,8 %). Los costos directos e indirectos por caso ambulatorio fueron $36 y $62 respectivamente y por caso hospitalizado fueron $548 y $222. El costo anual total asociado con la varicela se estimó en $13 907 146. Conclusión: La varicela está asociada con complicaciones clínicas importantes y elevado URAM en Perú, lo que respalda la necesidad de implementación de un plan de vacunación universal. (AU)

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical and economic burden associated with varicella in Peru. Methods: This was a multicenter, retrospective chart review study of patients aged 1-14 years with a varicella diagnosis between 2011 and 2016. Healthcare resource utilization (HCRU) associated with varicella, unit costs, and work loss were used to estimate direct and indirect costs, presented in USD ($). The cost and HCRU data was combined with estimates of varicella disease burden to estimate the overall annual costs of management of varicella in Peru. Results: A total of 179 children with varicella (101 outpatients, 78 inpatients) were included. Among outpatients, 5.9% experienced ≥1 complication, compared with 96.2% of inpatients. HCRU estimates included use of over-the-counter (OTC) medications (72.3% vs. 89.7% of outpatient and inpatients, respectively), prescription medications (30.7% vs. 94.9%), tests/procedures (0.0% vs. 80.8%). Among outpatients, direct and indirect costs per case were $36 and $62, respectively; among inpatients, respective costs were $548 and $222. The total annual cost associated with varicella was estimated at $ 13 907 146. Conclusion: Varicella is associated with substantial clinical complications and high HCRU in Peru, supporting the need for implementation of a routine childhood varicella vaccination plan. (AU)

Varicella healthcare resource utilization in middle income countries: a pooled analysis of the multi-country MARVEL study in Latin America & Europe.

Varicella is a mild and self-limited illness in children, but can result in significant healthcare resource utilization (HCRU). To quantify/contrast varicella-associated HCRU in five middle-income countries (Hungary, Poland, Argentina, Mexico, and Peru) where universal varicella vaccination was unimplemented, charts were retrospectively reviewed among 1-14 year-olds. Data were obtained on management of primary varicella between 2009-2016, including outpatient/inpatient visits, allied healthcare contacts, tests/procedures, and medications. These results are contrasted across countries, and a regression model is fit to extrapolated country-level costs as a function of gross domestic product (GDP). A total of 401 outpatients and 386 inpatients were included. Significant differences between countries were observed in the number of skin lesions among outpatients, ranging from 5.3% to 25.4% of patients with ≥250 lesions. Among inpatients, results were less variable. Average ambulatory medical visits ranged from 1.1 to 2.2. Average hospital stay ranged from 3.6 to 6.8 days. Use of tests/procedures was infrequent in outpatients, except in Argentina (13.3%); among inpatients, a test/procedure was ordered for 81.3% of patients, without regional variation. Prescription medications were administered in 44.4% of outpatients (range 9.3%-80.0%), and in 86% of inpatients (range 70.4%-94.9%). Total estimated spending on varicella treatment in the absence of vaccination was predicted from income levels (GDP) with an exponential function (R2 = 0.89). This study demonstrates that substantial HCRU is associated with varicella resulting in significant public health burden that could be alleviated through the use of varicella vaccination. Differences observed between countries possibly reflect treatment guidelines, healthcare resource availabilities and physician practices.

Understanding the role of exogenous boosting in modeling varicella vaccination.

INTRODUCTION: The exogenous boosting (EB) hypothesis posits that cell-mediated immunity is boosted for individuals reexposed to varicella-zoster virus (VZV). Historically, mathematical models of the impact of universal childhood varicella vaccination (UVV) have used limited data to capture EB and often conclude that UVV will temporarily increase herpes zoster (HZ) incidence. AREAS COVERED: We updated a 2013 systematic literature review of 40 studies to summarize new evidence from observational or modeling studies related to EB and its parameterization. We abstracted data on observational study designs and mathematical model structures, EB frameworks, and HZ-related parameter values. EXPERT COMMENTARY: This review identified an additional 41 studies: 22 observational and 19 modeling studies. Observational analyses generally reported pre-UVV increases in HZ incidence, making it difficult to attribute post-UVV increases to UVV versus other causes. Modeling studies considered a range of EB frameworks, from no boosting to full permanent immunity. Mathematical modeling efforts are needed in countries with long-standing vaccination programs to capture the dynamics of VZV transmission and temporal changes that may affect HZ incidence. Use of real-world pre-/postvaccination data on varicella and HZ incidence to validate model predictions may improve approaches to EB parameterization and understanding of the effects of varicella vaccination programs.