The impact of post-herpetic neuralgia: a prospective multicentre study on health-care resource use and associated costs

Abstract

Herpes Zoster (“shingles”) is caused by the reactivation of a latent varicella-zoster virus infection, acquired following a primary varicella infection, generally many years before the index episode. Herpes Zoster (HZ) is characterized by a typical cutaneous rash and localized pain specifically limited to the affected dermatomes, usually present during 2 weeks to one month. The annual incidence of HZ in European countries is estimated around 5 to 7 cases per 1000 person-years. The most common complication of HZ is post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN). PHN is frequently severe and incapacitating; it has an important impact on quality of life and is generally associated with high health-care resource use and costs. The aims of the present study were to assess, in HZ and PHN patients attending Chronic Pain Clinics in Portugal, the following : • Clinical characteristics of HZ and PHN patients; • Interference in activities of daily living and health related quality of life; • Health-care resource use associated with HZ and PHN (primary care visits, hospital visits and admissions, medications and other treatment modalities). In the present abstract we report specifically on the latter.