Health care costs, utilization and patterns of care following Lyme disease.

BACKGROUND:Lyme disease is the most frequently reported vector borne infection in the United States. The Centers for Disease Control have estimated that approximately 10% to 20% of individuals may experience Post-Treatment Lyme Disease Syndrome - a set of symptoms including fatigue, musculoskeletal...

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Main Authors: Emily R Adrion, John Aucott, Klaus W Lemke, Jonathan P Weiner
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2015-01-01
Series:PLoS ONE
Online Access:http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC4317177?pdf=render
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author Emily R Adrion
John Aucott
Klaus W Lemke
Jonathan P Weiner
author_facet Emily R Adrion
John Aucott
Klaus W Lemke
Jonathan P Weiner
author_sort Emily R Adrion
collection DOAJ
description BACKGROUND:Lyme disease is the most frequently reported vector borne infection in the United States. The Centers for Disease Control have estimated that approximately 10% to 20% of individuals may experience Post-Treatment Lyme Disease Syndrome - a set of symptoms including fatigue, musculoskeletal pain, and neurocognitive complaints that persist after initial antibiotic treatment of Lyme disease. Little is known about the impact of Lyme disease or post-treatment Lyme disease symptoms (PTLDS) on health care costs and utilization in the United States. OBJECTIVES:1) to examine the impact of Lyme disease on health care costs and utilization, 2) to understand the relationship between Lyme disease and the probability of developing PTLDS, 3) to understand how PTLDS may impact health care costs and utilization. METHODS:This study utilizes retrospective data on medical claims and member enrollment for persons aged 0-64 years who were enrolled in commercial health insurance plans in the United States between 2006-2010. 52,795 individuals treated for Lyme disease were compared to 263,975 matched controls with no evidence of Lyme disease exposure. RESULTS:Lyme disease is associated with $2,968 higher total health care costs (95% CI: 2,807-3,128, p<.001) and 87% more outpatient visits (95% CI: 86%-89%, p<.001) over a 12-month period, and is associated with 4.77 times greater odds of having any PTLDS-related diagnosis, as compared to controls (95% CI: 4.67-4.87, p<.001). Among those with Lyme disease, having one or more PTLDS-related diagnosis is associated with $3,798 higher total health care costs (95% CI: 3,542-4,055, p<.001) and 66% more outpatient visits (95% CI: 64%-69%, p<.001) over a 12-month period, relative to those with no PTLDS-related diagnoses. CONCLUSIONS:Lyme disease is associated with increased costs above what would be expected for an easy to treat infection. The presence of PTLDS-related diagnoses after treatment is associated with significant health care costs and utilization.
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spelling doaj.art-4b5c091d928d4ed1be177092e6d6666f2022-12-22T00:44:10ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032015-01-01102e011676710.1371/journal.pone.0116767Health care costs, utilization and patterns of care following Lyme disease.Emily R AdrionJohn AucottKlaus W LemkeJonathan P WeinerBACKGROUND:Lyme disease is the most frequently reported vector borne infection in the United States. The Centers for Disease Control have estimated that approximately 10% to 20% of individuals may experience Post-Treatment Lyme Disease Syndrome - a set of symptoms including fatigue, musculoskeletal pain, and neurocognitive complaints that persist after initial antibiotic treatment of Lyme disease. Little is known about the impact of Lyme disease or post-treatment Lyme disease symptoms (PTLDS) on health care costs and utilization in the United States. OBJECTIVES:1) to examine the impact of Lyme disease on health care costs and utilization, 2) to understand the relationship between Lyme disease and the probability of developing PTLDS, 3) to understand how PTLDS may impact health care costs and utilization. METHODS:This study utilizes retrospective data on medical claims and member enrollment for persons aged 0-64 years who were enrolled in commercial health insurance plans in the United States between 2006-2010. 52,795 individuals treated for Lyme disease were compared to 263,975 matched controls with no evidence of Lyme disease exposure. RESULTS:Lyme disease is associated with $2,968 higher total health care costs (95% CI: 2,807-3,128, p<.001) and 87% more outpatient visits (95% CI: 86%-89%, p<.001) over a 12-month period, and is associated with 4.77 times greater odds of having any PTLDS-related diagnosis, as compared to controls (95% CI: 4.67-4.87, p<.001). Among those with Lyme disease, having one or more PTLDS-related diagnosis is associated with $3,798 higher total health care costs (95% CI: 3,542-4,055, p<.001) and 66% more outpatient visits (95% CI: 64%-69%, p<.001) over a 12-month period, relative to those with no PTLDS-related diagnoses. CONCLUSIONS:Lyme disease is associated with increased costs above what would be expected for an easy to treat infection. The presence of PTLDS-related diagnoses after treatment is associated with significant health care costs and utilization.http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC4317177?pdf=render
spellingShingle Emily R Adrion
John Aucott
Klaus W Lemke
Jonathan P Weiner
Health care costs, utilization and patterns of care following Lyme disease.
PLoS ONE
title Health care costs, utilization and patterns of care following Lyme disease.
title_full Health care costs, utilization and patterns of care following Lyme disease.
title_fullStr Health care costs, utilization and patterns of care following Lyme disease.
title_full_unstemmed Health care costs, utilization and patterns of care following Lyme disease.
title_short Health care costs, utilization and patterns of care following Lyme disease.
title_sort health care costs utilization and patterns of care following lyme disease
url http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC4317177?pdf=render
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AT johnaucott healthcarecostsutilizationandpatternsofcarefollowinglymedisease
AT klauswlemke healthcarecostsutilizationandpatternsofcarefollowinglymedisease
AT jonathanpweiner healthcarecostsutilizationandpatternsofcarefollowinglymedisease