Herpes Zoster Incidence and Burden in Adults With Type 2 Diabetes in the U.S.: A Retrospective Database Analysis

OBJECTIVE

Data on the real-world burden of herpes zoster (HZ) in adults with type 2 diabetes (T2D) in the U.S. are limited. We assessed HZ in patients with and without T2D and measured the impact of HZ on health care resource use (HCRU) and costs.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

This retrospective cohort analysis used U.S. commercial claims data (sourced from claims incurred between 1 January 2012 and 31 July 2018). HZ incidence rates/1,000 person-years (PYs) were calculated in patients with and without T2D. HZ risk was evaluated using Poisson regression to generate adjusted incidence rate ratios (aIRRs). Patients with T2D with HZ were propensity score matched to patients with T2D only and to patients with HZ without T2D. HCRU and costs were compared across cohorts during a 1-year follow-up period. Cox proportional hazards analyses evaluated factors associated with HZ-related complications.

RESULTS

Crude HZ incidence rates in patients with and without T2D were 9.8/1,000 PY and 2.6/1,000 PY, respectively. T2D patients were almost twice as likely to be diagnosed with HZ (aIRR 1.84; 95% CI 1.82-1.85). HZ was associated with increased HCRU and health care costs. At 12 months, unadjusted incremental all-cause health care costs for patients with T2D with HZ versus patients with T2D without HZ were $5,216. The unadjusted incremental HZ-related health care costs for patients with T2D with HZ versus patients with HZ without T2D were $2,726. Age was the most important predictor for HZ-related complications.

CONCLUSIONS

Given the increased risk of HZ and HCRU and cost burden in patients with T2D, HZ prevention in patients with T2D may be beneficial.

Factors influencing series completion rates of recombinant herpes zoster vaccine in the United States: A retrospective pharmacy and medical claims analysis

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES

Vaccination against herpes zoster (HZ) is an effective strategy in protecting the population against consequences of varicella zoster virus reactivation. Optimal immunogenicity with recombinant zoster vaccine (RZV) relies on completion of the 2-dose series within 2-6 months from the first dose. The objectives of this study were to estimate RZV completion rates and adherence with the recommended administration schedule in the general United States population aged at least 50 years and to evaluate factors influencing completion rates.

METHODS

Longitudinal, open-source pharmacy and medical claims databases were analyzed for adults aged at least 50 years with a first RZV prescription filled between October 2017 and September 2019. The data were linked to Experian Marketing Services Consumer View data to obtain information regarding race. Completion rates and adherence were calculated overall and stratified according to claim source, age class, sex, and payer type. Logistic regression models were built for each subpopulation of interest to identify factors correlating with completion rates.

RESULTS

Overall, cumulative completion rates were 70.41% and 81.80% at 6 and 12 months, respectively. Median time to second dose was approximately 4 months (4.08-5.13 months) and adherence 67.62%. Completion rates were lower in the medical claims database compared with the pharmacy claims database (48.98% vs. 73.23% at 6 months). Regression models confirmed that pharmacy claim was an independent factor for higher completion rates, while African American race and Medicaid status were associated with lower completion rates. Most comorbidities, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and type 2 diabetes mellitus, were associated with lower completion rates.

CONCLUSION

Pharmacists contribute substantially to the overall high RZV completion rates in the United States. However, completion rates can be improved, especially in people receiving their first RZV dose at a physician's office. Future strategies should aim at lowering barriers to completing vaccination series in African Americans, Medicaid beneficiaries, and people with comorbidities.

Early examination of real-world uptake and second-dose completion of recombinant zoster vaccine in the United States from October 2017 to September 2019

Shingrix (Recombinant zoster vaccine, RZV) was approved in October 2017 in the United States (US) for the prevention of herpes zoster in adults aged 50 years and older. The vaccine is administered in two doses, with the second dose administration recommended between two and six months after the first dose. Examination of uptake and series completion is important to ensure appropriate use, especially at the time of vaccine introduction. This report provides demographic characteristics of patients receiving RZV between October 2017 and September 2019, first- and second-dose uptake, and a cumulative estimation of second-dose completion by month for US adults aged 50 years and older. Monthly uptake increased rapidly since October 2017; overall, 7,097,441 first doses of RZV were administered along with 4,277,636 second doses during the observed timeframe. Among people with an observed first-dose administration, 70% and 80% completed the two-dose series within six and 12 months post initial dose, respectively. This evidence suggests that RZV has rapidly been adopted by a large population in the US and most are following manufacturer or policy recommendations regarding series completion. Further analyses are needed to explore potential patient, provider, and policy-relevant characteristics associated with second-dose completion that could serve as targets for further improvement.

17. Assessment of Recombinant Zoster Vaccine Second Dose Completion in the United States

Background

Recombinant Zoster Vaccine (RZV) was licensed in the United States (US) in October 2017 for the prevention of herpes zoster in adults ≥ 50 years of age (YOA). The vaccine is administered in a two-dose sequence with a 2- to 6-month interval; however, the Center for Disease Control & Prevention has advised against restarting a series after the prescribed window. This study describes an assessment of 2nd dose completion and compliance of RZV in the US.

Methods

Primary analysis was conducted on a cohort ≥ 50 YOA who received an initial RZV dose between October 2017 and September 2018 as indicated in the IQVIA longitudinal prescription claims or medical claims databases. Subjects were required to have ≥ 1 year of observable time post initial dose. A sensitivity analysis was conducted using all eligible subjects regardless of observable time post initial dose. Endpoints of analyses were monthly and cumulative 2nd dose label-compliant proportions at 6 months and completers by 12-month intervals and time to completion from initial RZV vaccine administration with stratifications by age, sex, claim source and payer type.

Results

The primary sample included 1,225,088 subjects, while the sensitivity analysis included 7,097,441 (Table 1). Overall, 2nd RZV dose completion was 70.4% within 6 months and 81.8% within 12 months. Minimal variation for 12-month completion was demonstrated across age (77.2–84.5%), sex (81.7–81.9%), and Commercial vs. Medicare (80.9–83.0%). However, larger variations were seen across claim sources and other payer type, with medical claims (64.9%), Medicaid patients (72.8%) and Cash patients (74.7%) having lower rates at 12 months (Table 2). Overall, the average time to completion was around 4 months regardless of stratification except by claims source, with medical claims taking 5 months on average to complete. The sensitivity analysis of the variable follow-up cohort demonstrated findings consistent with that of the primary sample.

Conclusion

Assessment of RZV suggests high levels of completion across age, sex, payer type and claim sources. More effort is needed to understand barriers to completion rates in Medicaid patients and settings where vaccination claims are processed outside of the vaccine recipient’s pharmacy benefit.

Disclosures

Brandon J. Patterson, PharmD, PhD, GSK (Employee, Shareholder) Chi-Chang Chen, PhD, MSPharm, GSK (Research Grant or Support) Catherine B. McGuiness, MA, MS, GSK (Research Grant or Support)Pfizer (Shareholder) Lisa I. Glasser, MD, GSK (Employee, Shareholder) Kainan Sun, MS, PhD, GSK (Research Grant or Support) Philip O. Buck, PhD, MPH, ORCID: 0000-0002-3898-3669, GSK (Employee, Shareholder)