Investigation of economic burden caused by varicella in school aged children in Shenzhen

  Objective   To understand the economic burden caused by varicella in school aged children in Shenzhen, compare the economic burden under different varicella immunization strategies and provide evidence for the development of targeted varicella prevention and control strategies.

  Methods   A retrospective survey was conducted in 24 primary schools of Shenzhen where varicella outbreaks had been reported. Software SPSS 25.0 was used for analysis, the gender, age and case type specific direct cost, indirect cost and overall cost of varicella cases and the influence of their vaccination status on the economic burden were analyzed by non-parametric test (Kruskal Wallis test for multi-group comparison and Mann Whitney U test for pairwise comparison). Spearman rank correlation test was used to analyze the correlation between ordered variables (age, number of caregivers, number of care days) and the economic burden.

  Results   A total of 515 cases of varicella were surveyed. The difference in economic burden between outpatients and inpatients of varicella was significant. Among the varicella cases surveyed, 426 were not hospitalized, and their average medical cost was 810.00 (400.00–1452.00) yuan, in which 260.00 (200.00–350.00) yuan was direct cost, and 500.00 (200.00–1100.00) yuan was indirect cost, and 23 varicella cases were hospitalized, and their average medical cost was 3020.00 (2050.00–3508.00) yuan, in which 1100.00 (1000.00–1340.00) yuan was direct cost, and 1900.00 (1200.00–2200.00) yuan was indirect cost. Spearman rank correlation test showed a positive correlation between the number of care days, number of caregivers and the medical cost of the varicella cases. There was no gender specific difference in medical cost. The difference in medical cost between the cases with different varicella vaccination status was significant. The medical cost was higher in the cases with 1 dose varicella vaccination than in the cases with 0 dose varicella vaccination.

  Conclusion   The economic burden caused by varicella in school-aged children in Shenzhen was serious. Cases of varicella under different immunization strategy of varicella vaccine had different economic burden.