 This study assessed direct costs associated with herpes soester, HZ, and post-herpetic neuralgia, PHN, in the U.S. using a retrospective managed care insurance claims database, finding that resource utilization was greater among patients with HZ than controls. The adjusted annual incremental health care costs for HZ patients versus controls were 10 for patients aged 50 to 59 years, 29 for those 60 to 64 years, 76 for those 65 to 69 years, 43 for those 70 to 79 years, and 04 for those 80 plus years. Adjusted annual incremental costs among PHN patients versus controls were 70 for patients 50 to 59 years, 33 for those 60 to 64 years, 51 for those 65 to 69 years, 48 for those 70 to 79 years, and 147 for those 80 plus years. The study suggests that vaccination may reduce costs associated with HZ through case avoidance. This article was authored by Juliana L. Meyers, Shweta Mardwani, Deborah Roche, and others. We are article.tv, links in the description below.