Abstract
Background:
Introduction of a universal varicella vaccine program for U.S. children in 1996 sparked concern that less-frequent exposure to varicella would decrease external boosting of immunity to varicella zoster virus and thereby increase incidence of herpes zoster (HZ).
Objective:
To determine whether the varicella vaccination program has influenced trends in HZ incidence in the U.S. population older than 65 years.
Design:
Retrospective study of Medicare claims.
Setting:
Medicare, 1992 through 2010.
Participants:
2 848 765 beneficiaries older than 65 years.
Measurements:
Annual HZ incidence from 1992 through 2010; rate ratios (RRs) for HZ incidence by age, sex, and race or ethnicity; and state-level varicella vaccination coverage.
Results:
281 317 incident cases of HZ occurred. Age- and sex-standardized HZ incidence increased 39% from 10.0 per 1000 person-years in 1992 to 13.9 per 1000 person-years in 2010 with no evidence of a statistically significant change in the rate of increase after introduction of the varicella vaccination program. Before introduction of this program, HZ incidence was higher in women (RR, 1.21 [95% CI, 1.19 to 1.24]) than men and was lower in black persons (RR, 0.51 [CI, 0.48 to 0.53]) and Hispanic persons (RR, 0.76 [CI, 0.72 to 0.81]) than white persons. In a model adjusted for sex, age, and calendar year from 1997 to 2010, HZ incidence did not vary by state varicella vaccination coverage (RR, 0.9998 [CI, 0.9993 to 1.0003]).
Limitation:
Uncertain level and consistency of health-seeking behavior and access and uncertain accuracy of disease coding.
Conclusion:
Age-specific HZ incidence increased in the U.S. population older than 65 years even before implementation of the childhood varicella vaccination program. Introduction and widespread use of the vaccine did not seem to affect this increase. This information is reassuring for countries considering universal varicella vaccination.
Primary Funding Source:
None.
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Author, Article, and Disclosure Information
Craig M. Hales,
From the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia.
Disclaimer: The findings and conclusions in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official position of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Acknowledgment: The authors thank Carla Winston, PhD; Barbara Bardenheier, PhD, MS; Chad Heilig, PhD; John Zhang, PhD; and Ronald Henry for their valuable technical assistance.
Disclosures: None disclosed. Forms can be viewed at www.acponline.org/authors/icmje/ConflictOfInterestForms.do?msNum=M13-1026.
Reproducible Research Statement: Study protocol: Not available. Statistical code: Available from Dr. Hales (e-mail, [email protected]). Data set: Not available.
Corresponding Author: Craig M. Hales, MD, MPH, Division of Viral Diseases, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road NE, Mail Stop A-34, Atlanta, GA 30333; e-mail, [email protected].
Current Author Addresses: Drs. Hales, Harpaz, Joesoef, and Bialek: Division of Viral Diseases, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road NE, Mail Stop A-34, Atlanta, GA 30333.
Author Contributions: Conception and design: C.M. Hales, R. Harpaz, R. Joesoef, S.R. Bialek.
Analysis and interpretation of the data: C.M. Hales, R. Harpaz, R. Joesoef, S.R. Bialek.
Drafting of the article: C.M. Hales, R. Harpaz.
Critical revision of the article for important intellectual content: C.M. Hales, R. Harpaz, R. Joesoef, S.R. Bialek.
Final approval of the article: C.M. Hales, R. Harpaz, R. Joesoef, S.R. Bialek.
Statistical expertise: C.M. Hales, R. Harpaz.
Administrative, technical, or logistic support: R. Joesoef.
Collection and assembly of data: C.M. Hales, R. Joesoef.
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