Hospitalizaciones atribuibles a infecciones por virus varicela-zoster en la Comunidad Autónoma de Madrid, en el período 2001-2003

Abstract

Introduction The recent inclusion of the varicella vaccine in routine immunization programs has generated doubts about the most appropriate immunization strategy. Scientific reports offer a wide variety of estimates of therepercussions of a universal vaccination program on the incidence of herpes zoster. New studies of the incidence of both diseases in the era before vaccination are required to enable subsequent analysis of the repercussions of the vaccination program. Material and method A retrospective study using information obtained from the national surveillance system for hospital data (minimum basic data set [MBDS]) was performed. Data corresponding to all hospitalizations in the Autonomous Community of Madrid (Spain) for primary varicella (ICD-9-CM 052.0-052.9) and herpes zoster (ICD-9-CM 053.0-053.9) during the study period (January 1, 2001 through December 31, 2003) were extracted from the MBDS. Results The mean annual incidence of hospitalizations for varicella and herpes zoster was 6 per 100,000 persons per year and 10 per 100,000 persons per year, respectively. The median age was 4 years (Interquartile range: 1-29]) for varicella and 71 years (Interquartile range: [51-80]) for herpes zoster. The median length of hospital stay was 5 days (Interquartile range: 3-8) for varicella and 10 days (Interquartile range: 6-18) for herpes zoster. Varicella generated an annual hospitalization cost of 610,945 €, less than herpes zoster, at 1,383,840 € per year. Conclusions Varicella zoster virus infections cause a significant number of hospitalizations and significant associated costs every year in the Autonomous Community of Madrid.