The incidence of hospital admissions is very similar for varicella and herpes zoster.

The average duration, costs and fatality rate are higher for hospitalisations due to herpes zoster than due to varicella.

The majority of the VZV hospital burden is in the immunocompetent population and is potentially vaccine-preventable.

The estimated VZV hospital burden is sensitive to the method used for case ascertainment.

The uncertainty surrounding in-hospital mortality due to VZV is high.