Genital warts incidence and healthcare resource utilisation in Australia

• Published in: Sexually transmitted infections Vol. 86; no. 3; pp. 181 - 186
• Main Authors: Pirotta, Marie, Stein, Alicia N, Conway, E Lynne, Harrison, Christopher, Britt, Helena, Garland, Suzanne
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London BMJ Publishing Group Ltd 01.06.2010; BMJ Publishing Group; BMJ Publishing Group LTD
• Subjects: Adult; Australia - epidemiology; Biological and medical sciences; Condylomata acuminata; Condylomata Acuminata - epidemiology; Condylomata Acuminata - therapy; cost of illness; Costs; Diagnosis related groups; DRGs; Epidemiology. Vaccinations; Estimates; family practice; Family Practice - statistics & numerical data; Female; General aspects; general practice; Health Resources - utilization; Hospitalization; Hospitalization - statistics & numerical data; Hospitals; Human infectious diseases. Experimental studies and models; Human papillomavirus; Human viral diseases; Humans; Immunization; Incidence; Infectious diseases; Male; Medical sciences; Medicare; Pathology; Patient Acceptance of Health Care - statistics & numerical data; Penis; Reimbursement; Viral diseases; Viral diseases of the genital and urinary system; Warts; Young Adult; Australia; Oceania; Infection; Sexually transmitted disease; Viral disease; Genital system; Condyloma acuminatum; Epidemiology; Incidence
• DOI: 10.1136/sti.2009.040188
• ISSN: 1368-4973

ObjectivesTo estimate for the first time the incidence and healthcare resource utilisation associated with genital warts (GW) in Australia prior to the human papillomavirus vaccination programme.MethodThe authors analysed data from the nationally representative Bettering the Evaluation of Care and Health general practice cross-sectional programme and from the National Hospital Morbidity Database to estimate age-related incidence and community (non-hospital) and hospital-related costs (in 2009 Australian dollars) associated with medical treatment of GW.ResultsThe authors estimated an annual incidence of 2.19 cases of GW per 1000 Australians (95% CI 1.88 to 2.49), with peak incidence in women aged 20–24 years at 8.61 cases per 1000 and in men aged 25–29 years at 7.40 cases per 1000. The estimated number of consultations per GW case was 2.9 (95% CI 2.5 to 3.3) for women and 2.8 (95% CI 2.3 to 3.2) for men. Ablative treatments in general practice were more common in men (60% of consultations) than in women (37% of consultations). In contrast, more women (16% vs 8%) were referred to specialists, and 75% of ablative procedures requiring hospitalisation were performed in women. The annual cost of management of GW is over A$14 million, with an estimated cost per treated case of A$251 for men and A$386 for women.ConclusionsGW impose a large health and cost burden on Australians. The national immunisation programme with the quadrivalent human papillomavirus vaccine has the potential to greatly reduce this burden, and future research measuring its impact is keenly anticipated.