Prospective surveillance of varicella-zoster virus infections in an out-patient setting in Switzerland

Iseli, Andrea; Aebi, Christoph; Banz, K; Brunner, Matthias; Schmutz, André M; Heininger, Ulrich

doi:10.4161/hv.9897

Cited by 13 publications

(15 citation statements)

References 18 publications

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“…These were derived from a specifically performed prospective survey involving general practitioners and pediatricians in the Basel area of Switzerland. 44 The model allows to assign different resource use patterns to patients contracting VZV infection between 0 to 16 years of age (children/adolescents) compared to those becoming infected at age older than 16 years (adults). This differentiation was made because VZV-related morbidity and mortality is more severe in adults requiring more intense and more costly treatments than in children.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Medical resources taken into account included outpatient physician services (phone calls, consultations February 2005 to June 2007. 44 A total of 236 varicella patients were eligible for the analysis, among them 225 children or adolescents up to age 16 years and 11 adults (>16 years of age). Most patients (222 = 94%) were previously healthy, 3 (1.3%) were immunosuppressed, and in 11 (4.6%) information on underlying diseases was not available.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…To obtain real-world clinical and medical resource use data for patients contracting VZV infections, a prospective survey in the outpatient setting involving pediatricians and general practitioners in the Basel area of Switzerland was conducted from 44 with adjustment for the probability of seeking medical care (physician contact), as in the eVITa model complication probabilities are applied to all infected persons.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Data on outpatient treatment provided to patients contracting VZV infection who are seeking medical care was derived from the corresponding Swiss survey. 44 The costs of outpatient physician services were calculated by assigning tax points to each type of service rendered as specified in the official Swiss medical tariff list for out-patient medical services, 55 and multiplying these tax points by an average tax point value of CHF 0.89. Since contacts with a physician are reimbursed on the basis of their duration, a maximum duration of 10 minutes (shortest time interval possible as specified in the charges list) was assumed for a phone call with the physician or a consultation.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…For the economic valuation of a physician home visit, we assumed a maximum duration of 15 minutes and an additional 20 minutes travel time. The few diagnostic examinations, which were recorded in the survey, 44 were also valued according to applicable tax points.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 4 more Smart Citations

Economic evaluation of varicella vaccination in Swiss children and adolescents

Banz¹,

Iseli²,

Aebi³

et al. 2009

Human Vaccines

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This study explores the effects of three different 2-dose varicella zoster virus (VZV) vaccination strategies in Switzerland. The EVITA model was used to assess clinical benefits and costs of strategies (1) vaccination of 11-15 year old adolescents with a negative or uncertain history for chickenpox, (2) universal vaccination of toddlers at age 1 to 2 years, and (3) strategy 2 plus catch-up vaccination of 11-15 year old susceptible adolescents. The cost-effectiveness analysis compares strategies 2 and 3 versus strategy 1 (current vaccination policy in Switzerland). Probabilities for clinical outcomes and medical resource utilization were derived from a real-world survey among Swiss pediatricians and general practitioners including 236 individuals with VZV infection, published information on varicella complications, and expert opinion. Costs of medical resource utilization represent official Swiss medical tariffs. The model predicts both universal childhood vaccination strategies to be more effective in reducing varicella disease burden compared to strategy 1. Economically, both universal childhood vaccination strategies with or without catch-up result in net savings from the societal perspective reflected by a benefit cost ratio (BCR) of 1.22 or 1.29, respectively. In contrast, the model predicts net costs from the payer perspective (BCR of 0.27 and 0.30, respectively). These economic findings are comparable to those reported from other similar evaluations. However, due to the recent recommendation for using a 2-dose varicella vaccination schedule, our economic results for Switzerland are somewhat less favorable than those for other country analyses in which a less expensive 1-dose vaccination regimen for toddlers has been studied.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

Economic evaluation of varicella vaccination in Swiss children and adolescents

Banz¹,

Iseli²,

Aebi³

et al. 2009

Human Vaccines

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

Epidemiological and clinical characteristics and the approach to infant chickenpox in primary care

et al. 2019

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Global Prevalence of Varicella-Associated Complications: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Shah,

Meiwald,

Perera

et al. 2023

Infect Dis Ther

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Introduction Varicella (chickenpox) is an infectious disease caused by the varicella zoster virus affecting children, adolescents, and adults. Varicella symptoms are usually self-limiting; however, different complications with widespread and systemic manifestations can occur. This systematic literature review aims to explore and quantify varicella-associated complication rates. Methods Two databases (Embase and MEDLINE), congress abstracts, and reference lists of systematic reviews were screened to identify evidence on varicella complications. Complications were identified and grouped into 14 clinically relevant categories. Proportional meta-analyses were conducted using a random-effects model and tests for heterogeneity and publication bias were performed. Subgroup, sensitivity, and meta-regression analyses were also conducted. A total of 78 studies, spanning 30 countries, were included in the meta-analysis. Results Pooled prevalence was highest in severe varicella (22.42%; 95% confidence interval [CI] 10.13–37.77), skin-related complications (20.12%; 95% CI 15.48–25.20), and infection-related complications (10.03%; 95% CI 7.47–12.90). Cardiovascular (0.55%; 95% CI 0.08–1.33), genitourinary (1.17%; 95% CI 0.55–1.99), and musculoskeletal (1.54%; 95% CI 1.06–2.11) complications had the lowest pooled prevalence. The remaining complication categories ranged between 1% and 10%. Subgroup analysis showed that complications were more prevalent in children versus adults and in hospitalized patients versus outpatients. Meta-regression analysis found that no ecological level covariates were accurate predictors for the overall prevalence of varicella-associated complications. There was substantial heterogeneity and publication bias across all meta-analyses. Conclusion Results suggest that different types of varicella-associated complications could be frequent, impacting quality of life, and healthcare resource utilisation and budgets. These findings are crucial to raise awareness of the health and economic burden of varicella disease. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s40121-023-00899-7.

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Prospective surveillance of varicella-zoster virus infections in an out-patient setting in Switzerland

Cited by 13 publications

References 18 publications

Economic evaluation of varicella vaccination in Swiss children and adolescents

Economic evaluation of varicella vaccination in Swiss children and adolescents

Epidemiological and clinical characteristics and the approach to infant chickenpox in primary care

Global Prevalence of Varicella-Associated Complications: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

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