Modelled Public Health Impact of Introducing Adjuvanted Recombinant Zoster Vaccine into the UK National Immunisation Programme.

Introduction: In 2023, recombinant zoster vaccine (RZV) replaced zoster vaccine live (ZVL) vaccine in the UK National Immunisation Programme (NIP) for prevention of herpes zoster (HZ). The vaccination age was reduced from 70 to 65 years, with a subsequent planned reduction to 60 years. This modelling study aimed to evaluate the public health impact (PHI) of RZV vaccination in the 70 years of age (YOA) population and in younger individuals 65 and 60 YOA.

The Incidence of Herpes Zoster Complications: A Systematic Literature Review.

Introduction: The objective of this work was to summarize the incidence of herpes zoster (HZ) complications in different populations.

Methods: Systematic literature review of PubMed, Embase, and Virtual Health Library records between January 1, 2002 and October 20, 2022 using search strings for HZ, complications, and frequency measurements.

Results: The review included 124 studies, most conducted in the general population (n = 93) and on individuals with comorbidities (n = 41) ≥ 18 years of age.

Herpes zoster in older adults: Impact on carbon footprint in the United States.

We provide estimates for (I) annual herpes zoster (HZ) cases, (II) carbon costs related to healthcare utilization, and (III) annual carbon emissions due to HZ among ≥50 years of age (YOA) United States (US) population. We estimated the annual number of HZ cases in the US based on available incidence data and demographic data of individuals ≥50 YOA. Both the healthcare resource utilization (HCRU) associated with HZ cases and the unit carbon dioxide equivalent (i.

Differential Utility Losses in Herpes Zoster Cases Between Vaccinated and Unvaccinated Subjects: A Meta-analysis of Three Clinical Trials.

Background And Objective: Recombinant zoster vaccine (RZV) is approved in adults for the prevention of herpes zoster. The effect of RZV in moderating the severity of breakthrough cases of herpes zoster has been noted but not explicitly quantified before. In this study, a meta-analysis was undertaken to estimate differential utility losses between unvaccinated (Placebo) and vaccinated (RZV) subjects in breakthrough cases of herpes zoster from three RZV clinical trials.

Public Health Impact of the Adjuvanted RSVPreF3 Vaccine for Respiratory Syncytial Virus Prevention Among Older Adults in the United States.

Introduction: Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is an important cause of lower respiratory tract disease in older adults, resulting in substantial morbidity and mortality.

Methods: This study estimates the public health impact of vaccination with the adjuvanted RSVPreF3 vaccine among adults aged ≥ 60 years in the United States (US). A static, multi-cohort Markov model was used to estimate RSV-related outcomes over a 3-year time horizon for scenarios with and without one-time RSV vaccination.

The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Incidence of Herpes Zoster: A Narrative Literature Review.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has had a broad impact on health services and health outcomes. During the pandemic, there were numerous reports of herpes zoster (HZ) in people with COVID-19 and in COVID-19 vaccine recipients. The aim of this review is to elucidate the global effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on HZ.

Healthy ageing: Herpes zoster infection and the role of zoster vaccination.

Populations are ageing worldwide, with considerable time lived in ill-health, putting upwards pressure on healthcare budgets. Healthy ageing is defined as maintaining functional ability, including the ability to: meet basic needs; learn, grow and make decisions; be mobile; build and maintain relationships; and contribute to society. The risk and impact of infectious diseases increase with age due to immunosenescence.

Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices of European Healthcare Professionals towards Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B Vaccination in at-Risk Adults.

Despite the occurrence of several hepatitis A (hepA) and hepatitis B (hepB) outbreaks in Europe in the last few decades, not all European countries have implemented hepA and hepB vaccinations in their national immunization programs, especially for adults at risk for hepA and/or hepB infection, such as men who have sex with men or patients with chronic liver disease. Currently, little is known on the attitudes of European healthcare professionals (HCPs) towards hepA and hepB vaccinations for at-risk adults. We conducted an online survey among HCPs in Germany, Spain, and the United Kingdom to assess their awareness of and adherence to their national hepA and hepB vaccination guidelines for at-risk adults.

Recombinant zoster vaccine in immunocompetent and immunocompromised adults: A review of clinical studies.

Herpes zoster (HZ) is a debilitating vaccine-preventable disease. Impairment of cell-mediated immunity, as observed with aging and immunosuppressive disorders and therapies, increases risk. Recombinant zoster vaccine (RZV) is efficacious against HZ in adults aged ≥50 years in different settings, and in immunocompromised adults aged ≥18 years who are at increased risk of developing HZ.

The potential impact of increased recombinant zoster vaccine coverage on the burden of herpes zoster among adults aged 50-59 years.

Introduction: Recombinant zoster vaccine (RZV) is recommended in the US for prevention of herpes zoster (HZ) in adults aged ≥50 years. Vaccination rates remain suboptimal for adults 50-59 years compared with adults ≥50 years overall. The objective of this study was to model changes in outcomes associated with improved RZV vaccination coverage in US adults 50-59 years.

An Analysis of How Herpes Zoster Pain Affects Health-related Quality of Life of Placebo Patients From 3 Randomized Phase III Studies.

Objectives: Herpes zoster (HZ) is a painful condition caused by the reactivation of the varicella-zoster virus, negatively affecting the lives of patients. In this post hoc analysis, we describe the impact of HZ pain on the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and activities of daily living (ADL) of immunocompetent individuals 50 years of age and older and in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) recipients age 18 years of age and older.

Materials And Methods: ZOE-50 (NCT01165177), ZOE-70 (NCT01165229), and ZOE-HSCT (NCT01610414) were phase III, randomized studies conducted in immunocompetent adults 50 years of age and older and 70 years of age and older and in HSCT recipients age 18 years of age and older, respectively.

Lifetime risk of herpes zoster in the population of Beijing, China.

Objectives: We aimed to estimate the current and future lifetime risks (LTR) of herpes zoster (HZ) and postherpetic neuralgia (PHN), as well as their respective number of annual incident cases in Beijing, China, if individuals were not vaccinated against HZ.

Study Design: Mathematical model built in Microsoft Excel, .

Methods: A hypothetical cohort of 1,000 people was simulated from age 0-100 or until death to generate LTRs of HZ/PHN in Beijing, China.

Cost-effectiveness of the recombinant zoster vaccine (RZV) against herpes zoster: An updated critical review.

The objective of this study was to critically review the cost-effectiveness (CE) of the recombinant zoster vaccine (RZV) against herpes zoster (HZ). A literature review was conducted in PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane between January 1, 2017, and February 28, 2022, and on select public healthcare agency websites to identify and collect data from CE studies comparing RZV to zoster vaccine live (ZVL) or to no vaccination. Study characteristics, inputs, and outputs were collected.

Natural History of Herpes Zoster in the Placebo Groups of Three Randomized Phase III Clinical Trials.

Introduction: The risk of herpes zoster (HZ) is associated with a decline in immune system function, linked to aging and/or immunocompromising or immunosuppressive diseases or therapies. In this post hoc analysis we describe the incidence of HZ, rash characteristics, and burden of HZ pain in immunocompetent adults ≥ 50 years of age (YOA) and in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) recipients ≥ 18 YOA.

Methods: ZOE-50 (NCT01165177), ZOE-70 (NCT01165229), and ZOE-HSCT (NCT01610414) were phase III, observer-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized studies conducted in immunocompetent adults ≥ 50 YOA and ≥ 70 YOA; and in HSCT recipients ≥ 18 YOA, respectively.

Adjuvanted recombinant zoster vaccine decreases herpes zoster-associated pain and the use of pain medication across 3 randomized, placebo-controlled trials.

Herpes zoster (HZ) and HZ-associated pain greatly affect patients' quality of life, particularly in older and immunocompromised adults, for whom comorbidities and polypharmacy are often reported. Three phase III, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trials have reported the adjuvanted recombinant zoster vaccine (RZV) as highly efficacious in preventing HZ and reducing pain severity in healthy adults ≥50 years old (Zoster Efficacy Study [ZOE]-50 study, NCT01165177) and ≥70 years old (ZOE-70; NCT01165229) and in immunocompromised adults ≥18 years old undergoing autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (ZOE-HSCT; NCT01610414). Here, we investigated efficacy of RZV in reducing (i) the duration of clinically significant pain (Zoster Brief Pain Inventory pain score ≥3) and (ii) HZ-associated pain medication use and duration of use in participants with confirmed HZ ("breakthrough cases") from the 3 studies.

An Easy-to-Implement Clinical-Trial Frailty Index Based on Accumulation of Deficits: Validation in Zoster Vaccine Clinical Trials.

Purpose: Despite being among those most in need of protection, frail older adults are often not well represented in clinical trials. Although frailty likely influences responses to treatments and vaccines, frailty may not be explicitly considered in trials even when frail participants are enrolled due to the perception that frailty is difficult to measure effectively and efficiently without adding to participant or data collection burden. We developed an easy-to-implement frailty index, the Clinical Trial-Frailty Index (CT-FI), based on baseline medical history and standard patient-reported outcomes using data from clinical trials of recombinant Zoster vaccine (the ZOE-50 and ZOE-70 studies).

Cost-Effectiveness Analysis Update of the Adjuvanted Recombinant Zoster Vaccine in Japanese Older Adults.

Introduction: This study aimed to update cost-effectiveness and public health impact estimates of the two-dose recombinant zoster vaccine (RZV) compared with no vaccination against herpes zoster (HZ) in the Japanese population aged 65 years. List price of the vaccine and latest RZV efficacy and waning estimates were incorporated.

Methods: A multicohort static Markov model with a cycle length of 1 year was used to follow a hypothetical cohort of one million people aged 65 years over their remaining lifetime (base case).

Assessment of estrogen exposure from transdermal estradiol gel therapy with a dried urine assay.

Transdermal estradiol gel is a commonly used menopausal hormone therapy. In research studies investigating the pharmacokinetics and clinical utility of transdermal estradiol gels, serum is often used to measure estradiol levels. Serum results only represent a moment in time during phlebotomy and thus provide little information and allow for limited inference unless serial measurements are performed.

Modeled impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and associated reduction in adult vaccinations on herpes zoster in the United States.

Due to COVID-19, vaccinations dropped in 2020 and 2021. We estimated the impact of reduced recombinant zoster vaccine (RZV) use on herpes zoster (HZ) cases, complications, and quality-adjusted life-year (QALY) losses among older adults. Various scenarios were compared with Markov models using data from national sources, clinical trials, and literature.

A Cross-Sectional Concept Elicitation Study to Understand the Impact of Herpes Zoster on Patients' Health-Related Quality of Life.

Introduction: After a chickenpox infection, the varicella zoster virus lies dormant in nerve cells and can be reactivated in later life to cause herpes zoster (HZ), also called shingles, a painful rash that may result in persistent postherpetic neuralgia (PHN). Treatment options are limited, and HZ/PHN may have substantial negative effects on health-related quality of life (HRQoL). This qualitative cross-sectional study explored the subjective patient experience and impact on HRQoL of HZ and PHN in adults aged ≥ 50 years in Canada.

Impact of respiratory syncytial virus disease on quality of life in adults aged ≥50 years: A qualitative patient experience cross-sectional study.

Background: Information about the impact of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) on quality of life in older adults is limited. This study characterized the patient experience of RSV illness in USA older adults and assessed the content validity of the InFLUenza Patient Reported Outcome (FLU-PRO) in this population.

Methods: This qualitative, non-interventional, cross-sectional study included hybrid concept elicitation and cognitive debriefing interviews with 30 individuals (age ≥50 years) with polymerase chain reaction-confirmed RSV diagnosed within 6 months of screening.