Caracterización clínica y de costos de la hospitalización asociada a varicela en niños de la Región Metropolitana y de Valparaíso, Chile / Clinical and cost characterization of hospitalization associated with varicella in children from the Metropolitan Region and Valparaíso, Chile

INTRODUCCIÓN: La varicela es una infección relevante en la salud pública de Chile, pudiendo causar en algunas ocasiones complicaciones graves e incluso la muerte, lo que se asocia a un significativo gasto en salud. En Chile sólo se realiza vigilancia centinela a nivel ambulatorio, sin conocerse el impacto de la varicela en casos más graves que determinan hospitalización. OBJETIVOS: Realizar una descripción clínica y de los costos asociados a la atención de niños hospitalizados con diagnóstico de varicela, en años previos a la introducción de la vacuna en el Programa Nacional de Inmunización en Chile. MATERIALES Y MÉTODOS: Estudio multicéntrico, observacional y retrospectivo, en todos los casos de niños hospitalizados (0-15 años) con diagnóstico de varicela, entre enero de 2011 y diciembre de 2015 en cinco hospitales de Chile. Se realizó revisión de fichas para evaluar características clínicas de la enfermedad y los costos asociados a la hospitalización por varicela. RESULTADOS: Un total de 685 hospitalizaciones por varicela fueron incluidas en el estudio. La mediana de edad fue de 3 años (RIC:1-5), siendo la mayoría de los niños con edades comprendidas entre los 1 y 4 años (52% del total de casos). El 56% fueron hombres y sólo 7 niño s (1%) tuvieron antecedente de vacuna varicela. La mediana de días de hospitalización fue de 3 días en cada episodio (RIC: 2-5). El 13% de los casos requirió hospitalización en unidades de mayor complejidad, 7% de los niños ingresó a Unidad de Tratamiento Intensivo y 6% ingresó a Intermedio, ambos con una mediana de 3 días de hospitalización. Las principales complicaciones fueron: infección de piel y tejidos blandos (42%), alteraciones neurológicas (8%) y shock séptico/tóxico (4%). La letalidad fue de 0,4%. El costo de un caso de varicela considerando los costos directos fue de US$417, el costo indirecto fue de US$224 y los costos proporcionales de una muerte de US$3.575. Se estima que el costo total de un caso de varicela hospitalizado en Chile, considerando todos los factores anteriores, fue de US$4.216. CONCLUSIONES: La varicela es una enfermedad inmunoprevenible frecuente. Se observaron casos con una mediana de 3 días de hospitalización por complicaciones, con 13% de los casos requiriendo hospitalización en unidades de mayor complejidad, con un alto costo asociado, que se estima podría disminuir significativamente con la reciente incorporación de la vacuna al Programa Nacional de Inmunizaciones.

BACKGROUND: Varicella is a relevant infection in Chile and may cause serious complications and death, which could be associated with significant health care resource utilization and associated costs. In Chile, sentinel surveillance is carried out only on an outpatient basis, without knowing the impact of varicella in serious cases who need to be hospitalized. AIM: To describe the clinical characteristics and the costs associated with hospitalized children with diagnosis of varicella prior to the vaccine introduction in the National Immunization Program in Chile. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A multicenter, observational, and retrospective study in hospitalized children (0-15 years) with a diagnosis of varicella, were conducted in five hospitals in Chile between January 2011 and December 2015. A review of the clinical records was performed to evaluate the clinical characteristics of the disease and costs associated with hospitalization episodes for varicella. RESULTS: A total of 685 hospitalized children for varicella were included in this study. The median age was 3 years (IQR: 1-5), most children were between 1 and 4 years of age (52% of total cases). 56% were male, and only 7 patients (1%) had a history of previous varicella vaccination. The median lenght of days of hospitalization was 3 days (IQR: 2-5). 13% of the cases required hospitalization in a more complex care unit, 6% in the intermediate unit and 7% in the pediatric intensive treatment unit, both with a median stay of 3 days. The main complications were: skin and soft tissue infections (42%), neurologic (8%) and septic or toxic shock (4%). There were 3 cases of death (0.4%). The direct cost of a varicella case was US $ 417, the indirect cost was US $ 224 and the proportional cost of a case of death was US $ 3,575. It is estimated that the total cost of a hospitalized varicella case in Chile was US $ 4,216. CONCLUSIONS: Varicella is associated with a significant burden of disease in Chile. The median hospital stay was three days with 13% of cases requiring medical care in a complex unit, with high associated costs which could be significantly reduced with the recently incorporation of the varicella vaccine into the National Immunization Program.

Carga económica de la varicela en niños en Perú, entre 2011 y 2016 / Economic Burden of Varicella in Children in Peru from 2011 to 2016

Objetivo: Describir las complicaciones más frecuentes y la carga económica asociada con la varicela en el Perú. Material y métodos: Estudio multicéntrico de revisión de historias clínicas de pacientes de 1 a 14 años con diagnóstico de varicela entre 2011 y 2016. El uso de recursos de atención médica (URAM) asociados con la varicela, los costos unitarios y la pérdida de trabajo se utilizaron para estimar los costos directos e indirectos, presentados en USD ($). Los datos de costos y URAM se combinaron con estimaciones de carga de enfermedad para calcular el costo total anual de la varicela en el Perú. Resultados: Se incluyeron un total de 179 niños con varicela (101 ambulatorios, 78 hospitalizados). Entre los pacientes ambulatorios, el 5,9 % presentó una o más complicaciones, en comparación con 96,2 % de pacientes hospitalizados. El URAM incluyó el uso de medicamentos de venta libre (72,3 % frente a 89,7 % de pacientes ambulatorios y hospitalizados, respectivamente), medicamentos con receta (30,7 % frente a 94,9 %) y análisis y procedimientos (0,0 % frente a 80,8 %). Los costos directos e indirectos por caso ambulatorio fueron $36 y $62 respectivamente y por caso hospitalizado fueron $548 y $222. El costo anual total asociado con la varicela se estimó en $13 907 146. Conclusión: La varicela está asociada con complicaciones clínicas importantes y elevado URAM en Perú, lo que respalda la necesidad de implementación de un plan de vacunación universal. (AU)

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical and economic burden associated with varicella in Peru. Methods: This was a multicenter, retrospective chart review study of patients aged 1-14 years with a varicella diagnosis between 2011 and 2016. Healthcare resource utilization (HCRU) associated with varicella, unit costs, and work loss were used to estimate direct and indirect costs, presented in USD ($). The cost and HCRU data was combined with estimates of varicella disease burden to estimate the overall annual costs of management of varicella in Peru. Results: A total of 179 children with varicella (101 outpatients, 78 inpatients) were included. Among outpatients, 5.9% experienced ≥1 complication, compared with 96.2% of inpatients. HCRU estimates included use of over-the-counter (OTC) medications (72.3% vs. 89.7% of outpatient and inpatients, respectively), prescription medications (30.7% vs. 94.9%), tests/procedures (0.0% vs. 80.8%). Among outpatients, direct and indirect costs per case were $36 and $62, respectively; among inpatients, respective costs were $548 and $222. The total annual cost associated with varicella was estimated at $ 13 907 146. Conclusion: Varicella is associated with substantial clinical complications and high HCRU in Peru, supporting the need for implementation of a routine childhood varicella vaccination plan. (AU)

Costos directos de varicela complicada en una población pediátrica de Colombia / Direct costs of complicated chicken pox in a Colombian pediatric population

Objetivo Estimar los costos directos de varicela en una población pediátrica de Colombia. Método Se diseño un estudio de casos retrospectivo sobre todos los casos de varicela diagnosticados de 2005-2008 en el Hospital Infantil Napoleón Franco Pareja de Cartagena de Indias, Colombia. Fue utilizada la perspectiva del hospital. Se buscaron costos de atención, laboratorio, imagenología y medicamentos. El microcosteo se realizó en pesos colombianos del 2010. Se realizó un ajuste por inflación. Resultados La mediana de costos totales hospitalarios fue de $ 898 766 (Q1: $ 197 348; Q3: $ 1 195 262). La mediana de costo por día hospitalario fue de $ 221 777 (Q1: $ 97 027; Q3: $ 293 740). En menores de 1 año la mediana de costo fue de $ 980 742 (Q1: $ 905 708; Q3: $ 1 026 031). En pacientes de 5-12 años la mediana de costo fue de $ 105 833 (Q1: $ 39 568; Q3: $ 891 824). Conclusiones. Los resultados se asemejan con estudios previos sobre el tema (en Panamá, e incluso algunos países desarrollados), evidenciando un relativo alto costo de enfermedad por varicela en Colombia. Estos resultados aumentan la evidencia a favor de la vacunación, e invitan a decisores en salud en Colombia a considerar la introducción de la vacunación contra varicela.

Objective Estimating the cost of chicken pox in a Colombian pediatric population. Methodology This was a retrospective case study which searched for all diagnosed chicken pox cases in the Napoleón Franco Pareja children’s hospital (Cartagena, Colombia), during 2005-2008. The hospital’s records/perspective was used. Cost related to health personnel, lab, diagnostic images and drugs were searched. The micro-costing was made at Colombian peso prices for 2010. An adjustment was made for inflation. Results Mean hospital costs were $ 898,766 (Q1: $ 197,348; Q3: $ 1,195,262). Mean hospital cost per day was $ 221,777 (Q1: $ 97,027; Q3: $ 293,740). Mean cost <1 year-old patients was $ 980,742 (Q1: $ 905,708; Q3: $ 1,026,031). Mean cost was $ 105,833 in 5-12 year-old patients (Q1: $ 39,568; Q3: $ 891,824). Conclusions The results were similar to those of previous studies (in Panama and some developed countries) highlighting relatively high illness costs in Colombia. These results increase the evidence in favor of vaccination and invite Colombian public health officials to consider introducing a chicken pox vaccine into Colombia.

Varicella epidemiology and cost-effectiveness analysis of universal varicella vaccination program in Taiwan.

Varicella zoster virus is highly contagious and affects people worldwide. In this study, we collected local epidemiological data and evaluated the cost-effectiveness of varicella vaccination program in Taiwan. To examine the economical consequences of universal vaccination, a model of the incidence and the associated costs in a hypothetical cohort was created each year for 30 years. The incidence increased sharply after the infancy and peaked in children aged 5 years. The hospitalization rate among cases was the highest in infants, followed by adults 30 to 44 years old. The benefit-cost analysis showed that one dollar invested in the program would cost extra 46 cents in direct medical expense, but would save extra 45 cents considering the societal expenses. Substantial economical benefits can occur due to the averted unproductive days for parents. Sensitive surveillance of both varicella and zoster is essential in countries that have implemented or are about to implement varicella vaccination.

Controversies in chicken-pox immunization.

Chicken-pox is one more newer vaccine in our armamentarium against infectious diseases. Due to its extremely contagious nature, varicella is experienced by almost every child or young adult in the world. Each year from 1990 to 1994, prior to availability of varicella vaccine, about 4 million cases of varicella occurred in the United States. Of these cases approximately 10,000 required hospitalization and 100 died. Although varicella is not commonly perceived as an important public health problem, the socioeconomic consequences in industrialized countries of a disease that affects practically every child and causes the carrier absence from work should not be underestimated. The varicella vaccines available in the market are safe and effective. A recent cost-benefit analysis in USA showed that routine chicken-pox vaccination is likely to save five times the investment. Even when only direct costs were considered, benefits almost balanced the costs. At present similar studies from developing countries are not available. The public health impact of varicella and zoster may be increasing in regions with high endemic rates of HIV infection. Varicella vaccine may be used either at an individual level to protect susceptible adolescents and adults, or at a population level, to cover all children as part of a national immunization programme. Vaccination of adolescents and adults will protect at-risk individuals, but will not have a significant impact on the epidemiology of the disease on a population basis. On the other hand, extensive use as a routine vaccine in children will have a significant impact on the epidemiology of the disease. If sustained high coverage can be achieved, the disease may virtually disappear. If only partial coverage can be obtained, the epidemiology may shift, leading to an increase in the number of cases in older children and adults. Hence, routine childhood varicella immunization programmes should emphasize high, sustained coverage. At present, this vaccine will have a lower priority in the National Immunization Schedule that does not have MMR and typhoid, which have a greater socioeconomic impact. Hence, at the present time WHO does not recommend the inclusion of varicella vaccination into the routine immunization programmes of developing countries.