Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2009, 6(9), 2344-2353; doi:10.3390/ijerph6092344
Review

Herpes Zoster Associated Hospital Admissions in Italy: Review of the Hospital Discharge Forms

Giovanni Gabutti 1,* email, Carlotta Serenelli 1 , Alessandra Cavallaro 1  and Pietro Ragni 2
1 Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Section of Hygiene and Occupational Health, University of Ferrara; Via Fossato di Mortara 64b, 44100 Ferrara, Italy 2 Health Management, LHU of Reggio Emilia; Via Amendola 2, 42100, Reggio Emilia, Italy
* Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Received: 22 July 2009 / Accepted: 26 August 2009 / Published: 2 September 2009
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Abstract: In Italy a specific surveillance system for zoster does not exist, and thus updated and complete epidemiological data are lacking. The objective of this study was to retrospectively review the national hospital discharge forms database for the period 1999-2005 using the code ICD9-CM053. In the period 1999-2005, 35,328 hospital admissions have been registered with annual means of 4,503 hospitalizations and 543 day-hospital admissions. The great part of hospitalizations (61.9%) involved subjects older than 65 years; the mean duration of stay was 8 days. These data, even if restricted to hospitalizations registered at national level, confirm the epidemiological impact of shingles and of its complications.
Keywords: herpes zoster; hospital admissions; epidemiology

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MDPI and ACS Style

Gabutti, G.; Serenelli, C.; Cavallaro, A.; Ragni, P. Herpes Zoster Associated Hospital Admissions in Italy: Review of the Hospital Discharge Forms. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2009, 6, 2344-2353.

AMA Style

Gabutti G, Serenelli C, Cavallaro A, Ragni P. Herpes Zoster Associated Hospital Admissions in Italy: Review of the Hospital Discharge Forms. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2009; 6(9):2344-2353.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Gabutti, Giovanni; Serenelli, Carlotta; Cavallaro, Alessandra; Ragni, Pietro. 2009. "Herpes Zoster Associated Hospital Admissions in Italy: Review of the Hospital Discharge Forms." Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 6, no. 9: 2344-2353.

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