Clinical and Economic Impact of Herpes Zoster in Cancer Patients

NCT06207487 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: 3527/23
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 150
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Herpes zoster (HZ) is an important infectious complication among patients with cancer, particularly in the setting of treatment-related immunosuppression. This retrospective observational cohort study aimed to characterize the clinical profile of HZ episodes and estimate direct hospital costs associated with emergency department visits and hospitalizations in patients with active malignancy treated at a Brazilian tertiary cancer center. The study also explored associations between cancer characteristics, recent oncologic therapies, and clinical outcomes, including postherpetic neuralgia, recurrence, disease dissemination, and hospital costs. Findings are intended to support future budget impact and cost-effectiveness analyses of herpes zoster vaccination in oncology populations.

Conditions

Herpes Zoster

Keywords

herpes zoster; cancer; costs; postherpetic neuralgia

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

• Clinical characteristics of herpes zoster episodes

  Characterization of herpes zoster episodes in adult patients with active cancer, including clinical presentation, dissemination, postherpetic neuralgia, recurrence, cancer type and stage, and recent oncologic therapies.

  September 2019 through December 2024

• Direct hospital costs

  Estimation of direct hospital costs associated with emergency department visits and hospitalizations related to herpes zoster in patients with active cancer.

  September 2019 through December 2024

Secondary Outcomes (1)

• Postherpetic neuralgia

  3 months after herpes zoster episode

Study Arms (1)

Patients with Herpes Zoster and Active Cancer

Adult patients with active solid or hematologic malignancies who presented with a clinically confirmed episode of herpes zoster between September 2019 and December 2024 at A.C. Camargo Cancer Center, São Paulo, Brazil.

Other: Herpes Zoster episode

Interventions

Herpes Zoster episode OTHER

Clinically confirmed herpes zoster episode (initial episode or recurrence) identified through electronic medical records.

Patients with Herpes Zoster and Active Cancer

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)
• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Adults (≥18 years) with active solid or hematologic malignancies evaluated at A.C. Camargo Cancer Center (São Paulo, Brazil) who experienced a clinically confirmed episode of herpes zoster during the study period.

You may qualify if:

• Clinically confirmed episode of herpes zoster (initial episode or recurrence). Herpes zoster diagnosed based on a typical painful dermatomal rash with polymorphic lesions (macules, papules, vesicles, and crusts), either localized or disseminated.

You may not qualify if:

• Patients in whom herpes zoster was not confirmed after medical record review.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• AC Camargo Cancer Center: lead

Study Sites (1)

A.C.Camargo Cancer Center

São Paulo, São Paulo, 01509-001, Brazil

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Herpes Zoster; Neoplasms; Neuralgia, Postherpetic

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Varicella Zoster Virus Infection; Herpesviridae Infections; DNA Virus Infections; Virus Diseases; Infections; Neuralgia; Peripheral Nervous System Diseases; Neuromuscular Diseases; Nervous System Diseases; Pain; Neurologic Manifestations; Signs and Symptoms; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms

Study Design

• Study Type: observational
• Observational Model: COHORT
• Time Perspective: RETROSPECTIVE
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: January 5, 2024
• First Posted: January 17, 2024
• Study Start: September 1, 2019
• Primary Completion: December 30, 2024
• Study Completion: December 30, 2024
• Last Updated: July 31, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-07

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

BR (1)