Endemic Fungal Infections Among Older Adults in the U.S.

Histoplasmosis, coccidioidomycosis, and blastomycosis have different geographic distributions; incidence rates vary substantially by region.

Increasing longevity is enabling older adults to travel and to participate in outdoor activities, raising their likelihood of exposure to fungal pathogens. To assess the epidemiology of endemic fungal infections among older individuals in the U.S., researchers conducted a retrospective cohort study, using 1999–2008 claims for a random 5% sample of Medicare beneficiaries. Eligibility criteria included residence in the U.S., age ≥65, full Medicare coverage for ≥13 months, and inpatient treatment (or ≥2 outpatient visits) for histoplasmosis, coccidioidomycosis, or blastomycosis. Incidence was calculated using the number of cases of each mycosis, divided by the number of person-years of observation. A total of 1,913,247 beneficiaries were inclu…

Reviewing Author

Mary E. Wilson, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardOneHealthTrust (formerly Center for Disease Dynamics, Economics, and Policy); Global Health Institute, University of Wisconsin

RoyaltiesUpToDate

Editorial BoardsJournal of Travel Medicine

Mary E. Wilson, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardOneHealthTrust (formerly Center for Disease Dynamics, Economics, and Policy); Global Health Institute, University of Wisconsin

RoyaltiesUpToDate

Editorial BoardsJournal of Travel Medicine