Increased Health Care Resource Utilization and Costs Associated with Herpes Zoster Among Patients Aged ≥50 Years with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease in the United States
Parinaz Ghaswalla, Philippe Thompson‐Leduc, Wendy Y. Cheng, Colin Kunzweiler, Min‐Jung Wang, Michael Bogart, Brandon J. Patterson, Mei Sheng Duh, John Wojciehowski, Suna Park, Barbara P. Yawn
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are potentially at increased risk of herpes zoster (HZ). Little is known about the impact of an HZ episode on health care resource utilization (HRU) and costs among patients with COPD. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study of individuals aged ≥50 years in the United States (US) used administrative claims data from Optum's de-identified Clinformatics Data Mart Database for commercially insured and Medicare Advantage members (2013-2018). Two cohorts of patients with COPD, with HZ (COPD+/HZ+) and without HZ (COPD+/HZ-), were identified. All-cause and COPD-related HRU rates and costs (2018 US dollars) were compared between cohorts for up to 12 months of follow-up. Comparisons were controlled for baseline differences through propensity score adjustment. RESULTS: <0.004) in the year after HZ. CONCLUSIONS: HRU and cost burden is higher in patients with COPD with vs without HZ. These results could help to estimate the potential cost benefits of HZ vaccination among patients with COPD.