Startling – Lyme Disease Diagnoses Have Skyrocketed 357% in Rural Areas

Diagnosis increased by 65% ​​in urban areas.

Over the past 15 years, Lyme disease has increased significantly in the United States, resulting in a problem of increasing public concern. Between 2007 and 2021, private claim lines for Lyme disease diagnosis increased 357% in rural areas and 65% in urban areas. These and other findings about this bacterial disease spread by ticks are presented in an infographic recently published by FAIR Health.

A 15-year analysis of Lyme disease was conducted by a national independent non-profit organization using a database of over 36 billion private claims medical claims. This study expands on his previous FAIR Health infographic, which examined 10 years of Lyme disease data.

A private insurance claim line for those diagnosed with Lyme disease in the United States. Credit: fairhealth.org

difference between city and countryside

This infographic reveals important differences in Lyme disease prevalence when comparing rural and urban areas. Between 2016 and 2021, the number of claim lines diagnosed with Lyme disease increased by 60% in rural areas and 19% in urban areas, with diagnoses peaking nationwide in June and July each year. Did. Rural locations showed a higher percentage of claim lines associated with a Lyme disease diagnosis than urban areas during the summer months. Gold claims were more common in urban areas than in rural areas.

geographical distribution

In 2017, the states with the highest percentage of claim lines diagnosed with Lyme disease as a percentage of all diagnoses in the state were New Jersey, Connecticut, North Carolina, Rhode Island, and Vermont. Given that Lyme disease is historically associated with the Northeast and upper Midwest, it’s not surprising that North Carolina was her third-highest state with Lyme disease claim line rates in 2017. It suggests significant expansion into new regions. But by 2021, North Carolina was off the list.

The top states in 2021, from highest to lowest, were New Jersey, Vermont, Maine, Rhode Island, and Connecticut. Maine, previously not on the list of top five states with Lyme disease claim lines, will be third in 2021, demonstrating the increasing presence of tick-borne disease in the state. suggesting. Connecticut and Vermont swapped places, with Vermont taking her second place and Connecticut dropping to her fifth place.

Subsequent diagnosis

Lyme disease can be treated with antibiotics, but some people with Lyme disease develop a condition with long-term symptoms such as fatigue, muscle and joint pain, and cognitive problems. is associated with post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome, sometimes called chronic Lyme disease.

To identify subsequent diagnoses associated with Lyme disease, FAIR Health examined a statistically significant cohort of individuals in a private claims database from 2017 to 2021 to determine the prevalence of specific diagnoses in Lyme disease patients. Rates were compared with all patients within the cohort. The analysis found that diagnoses such as malaise and fatigue and soft tissue-related problems were more common in Lyme disease patients than in the overall patient population. Across all age groups, patients with Lyme disease were generally more likely than all patients in the cohort to have these apparently related diagnoses.

FAIR Health President Robin Gelburd said: FAIR Health will continue to use the claims data repository to provide actionable and relevant insights to healthcare professionals seeking to better understand the ongoing rise in Lyme disease cases. ”

This is the third study conducted by FAIR Health on Lyme disease, Infographic Released in 2017, the second white paper Published in 2019.