Retrospective study assessing the burden of varicella in méxico in children 1-14 years of age treated across 10 sites

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Evaluate the clinical and economic burden of Varicella in Mexican patients age 1 to 14 years old. METHODS: Multicenter, retrospective chart review in Mexican patients aged 1-14 years diagnosed with primary varicella during 2011-2016 treated across 10 sites. Individual direct and indirect costs (2017 USD) were calculated using patient-reported healthcare resource utilization attributable to varicella, and caregiver work loss. Annual societal costs were estimated for a base scenario by multiplying per-patient costs with mean 2011-2016 Mexican epidemiological surveillance system (SUIVE) varicella incidence, inflated for the estimated proportion of public healthcare centers not regularly reporting to SUIVE. RESULTS: Charts of 152 varicella patients were included: 75 outpatients and 77 inpatients. Inpatients reported higher complication rates (84.4 vs 6.7%), prescription and over-the counter medication use (94.8 vs 80.0%; 71.4 vs 80.0%, respectively), tests/procedures (87.0 vs 5.3%), and allied health professional consultations (61.0 vs 12.0%). Direct and indirect costs were calculated at 198.3 and 42.3 dólares per outpatient, and 5,611.0 and 175.2 USD per inpatient, respectively. CONCLUSION: Substantial clinical and economic burden was observed among children with primary varicella in Mexico. These results highlight the need for implementation of a childhood varicella vaccination program. KEYWORDS: Child; Varicella; Vaccination; Mexico; Economic Burden of Disease; Healthcare Resource Utilization.