The Burden of Herpes Zoster and Postherpetic Neuralgia in Manitoba: A 15 year population based cohort study using administrative healthcare data

Herpes zoster is a common disease, affecting up to 30% of the population in their lifetime. We examined the burden of this disease over the period of 1997-2013 using administrative healthcare data to determine changes over time. Key medications used to treat herpes zoster and postherpetic neuralgia became generic, resulting in costs reductions, where was offset by increased drug utilization leaving drug-episode costs unchanged. Mean per-episode medical costs increased moderately. Combined, these resulted in increased outpatient costs over time. However, dramatic reduction in HZ-related hospitalizations countered these trends, resulting in no net change in overall burden. The total healthcare cost of treating HZ and PHN in Manitoba in 2011/12 was $1,997,183, slightly less than the $2,095,633 burden determined for 1997/98, the first study year. Long-term demographic projections suggest the population will continue to grow and age, likely driving the future burden upwards.