Epidemiological characteristics and societal burden of varicella zoster virus in the Netherlands.

Background: Varicella and herpes zoster are both caused by varicella zoster virus (VZV) infection or reactivation and may lead to complications associated with a (severe) societal burden. Because the epidemiology of VZV-related diseases in the Netherlands remains largely unknown or incomplete, the main objective of this study was to study the primary care incidence, associated complications and health care resource use.

Methods: We investigated the incidence of VZV complications in the Dutch general practitioner (GP) practices and pharmacies in a retrospective population-based cohort study (2004-2008) based on longitudinal GP data including free text fields, hospital referral and discharge letters from approximately 165,000 patients.

Health care costs of depression in primary care patients in The Netherlands.

Background: Depression is highly prevalent in Western countries and is associated with increased health care costs. Most depressed patients are treated in primary care.

Objective: To estimate the resource use and costs of depressed patients treated in primary care in comparison with matched controls.