Epidemiology of varicella zoster virus infection in Canada and the United Kingdom – CORRIGENDUM

Abstract

SUMMARYMany countries are currently studying the possibility of mass vaccination against varicella. The objective of this study was to provide a comprehensive picture of the pre-vaccine epidemiology of the varicella zoster virus (VZV) to aid in the design of immunization programs and to adequately measure the impact of vaccination. Population-based data including physician visit claims, sentinel surveillance and hospitalization data from Canada and the United Kingdom were analysed. The key epidemiological characteristics of varicella and zoster (age specific consultation rates, seasonality, force of infection, hospitalization rates and inpatient days) were compared. Results show that the overall epidemiology of varicella and zoster is remarkably similar between the two countries. The major difference being that, contrary to Canada, the epidemiology of varicella seems to be changing in the United Kingdom with an important decrease in the average age at infection that coincides with a significant increase in children attending preschool. Furthermore, differences exist in the seasonality between the United Kingdom and Canada, which seem to be primarily due to the school calendar. These results illustrate that school and preschool contact patterns play an important role in the dynamics of varicella. Finally, our results provide baseline estimates of varicella and zoster incidence and morbidity for VZV vaccine effectiveness and cost-effectiveness studies.

Risk of Herpes Zoster in Relation to Body Mass Index Among Residents Aged ≥50 Years: The Shozu Herpes Zoster Study

“…These were chosen as confounding variables, indicated from previous studies. [4][5][6][7][8][9]14 The incidence of HZ was described per 1,000 person-years, and Kaplan-Meier survival curves were plotted. The Cox proportional hazard regression model was used to obtain hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% CIs of HZ incidence by BMI category.…”

“…1,2 The incidence and severity of HZ are known to develop because of the reduction of immunological function with age. 3 The epidemiology of incidence and risk factors for HZ has been assessed by several studies in the United Kingdom, 4 United States, 5,6 Canada, 7 and Japan. 8 However, most of the studies were cross-sectional, except for one Japanese cohort study.…”

Necrotising fasciitis as a complication of primary varicella infection in an immunocompetent child

“…More than 90% of primary varicella infections are estimated to occur within the first 15 years of life,1 though hospitalisation secondary to varicella is only estimated at 7.6 per 100 000 in the UK 2. Over half the cases of chicken pox-related hospitalisations have been shown to be due to a superinfection, commonly cellulitis or abscess formation (estimated at over 30%).…”

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

“…Furthermore, in the absence of vaccination, most countries found in the temperate zone demonstrate a pediatric population that is over 90% seropositive for VZV. 5,6 The use of vaccination to prevent varicella has become an important strategy in reducing the morbidity and mortality associated with this disease. This strategy has subsequently diminished the healthcare and economic burden caused by varicella.…”