Zostavax for the prevention of Herpes Zoster and Postherpetic Neuralgia
The primary efficacy outcome of the SPS is vaccine efficacy for the burden of illness (BOI), a composite endpoint affected by the incidence, severity and duration of the associated pain and discomfort. The primary outcome of the ZEST is incidence of HZ. Secondary endpoints in the Shingles Prevention Study (SPS) is the incidence of PHN and for the ZEST antibody titer and safety. In this assessment, we have separated the individual parameters of the vaccine efficacy for BOI and presented them according to age group. Data for the incidence of HZ, the incidence of PHN, mortality, hospitalisation rate, pain, activities of daily life, health related quality of life and adverse events, were reported.