Estimated global and regional economic burden of genital herpes simplex virus infection among 15–49 year-olds in 2016
Issued Date
2024-12-01
Resource Type
eISSN
2731913X
Scopus ID
2-s2.0-105010956291
Journal Title
BMC Global and Public Health
Volume
2
Issue
1
Rights Holder(s)
SCOPUS
Bibliographic Citation
BMC Global and Public Health Vol.2 No.1 (2024)
Suggested Citation
Chaiyakunapruk N., Lee S.W.H., Kulchaitanaroaj P., Rayanakorn A., Lee H., Looker K.J., Hutubessy R., Gottlieb S.L. Estimated global and regional economic burden of genital herpes simplex virus infection among 15–49 year-olds in 2016. BMC Global and Public Health Vol.2 No.1 (2024). doi:10.1186/s44263-024-00053-6 Retrieved from: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/20.500.14594/111379
Title
Estimated global and regional economic burden of genital herpes simplex virus infection among 15–49 year-olds in 2016
Corresponding Author(s)
Other Contributor(s)
Abstract
Background: Globally, herpes simplex virus (HSV)-2 and -1 infections contribute to a large disease burden, but their full economic consequences remain unclear. This study aims to estimate the global economic impact of genital HSV-2 and HSV-1 infection and its consequences for people with genital ulcer disease, neonatal herpes, and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection attributable to HSV-2. Methods: Using a societal perspective, the economic burden was calculated at the country level and presented by World Health Organization (WHO) regions and World-Bank income levels. The disease burden was obtained from previously published global disease burden studies in 2016 and disaggregated for 194 countries. Estimates of healthcare resource utilisation were sourced from a literature review, and online interviews were conducted with 20 experts from all 6 WHO regions. Relevant costs were obtained from the literature and estimated in 2016 international dollars (I$). Results: Both genital HSV-2 (I$31·2 billion) and HSV-1 (I$4·0 billion) infections and their consequences were estimated to cost I$35·3 billion globally in 2016. The major economic burden was from the Americas and Western Pacific regions combined, accounting for almost two-thirds of the global burden (I$20·8 billion). High- and upper-middle-income countries bore a large proportion of the economic burden (76·6% or I$27·0 billion). Costs were driven by the large number of HSV-2 recurrences; however, even assuming conservatively that people with symptomatic herpes have on average only one episode a year, global costs were estimated at I$16·5 billion. Conclusions: The global costs of genital HSV infection and its consequences are substantial. HSV prevention interventions have the potential to avert a large economic burden in addition to disease burden; thus, efforts to accelerate HSV vaccine development are crucial.