Outpatient visits before and after Lyme disease diagnosis in a Maryland employer-based health plan.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Insurance claims data have been used to inform an understanding of Lyme disease epidemiology and cost of care, however few such studies have incorporated post-treatment symptoms following diagnosis. Using longitudinal data from a private, employer-based health plan in an endemic US state, we compared outpatient care utilization pre- and post-Lyme disease diagnosis. We hypothesized that utilization would be higher in the post-diagnosis period, and that temporal trends would differ by age and gender.

Methods

Members with Lyme disease were required to have both a corresponding ICD-9 code and a fill of an antibiotic indicated for treatment of the infection within 30 days of diagnosis. A 2-year 'pre- diagnosis' period and a 2-year 'post-diagnosis period' were centered

SUBMITTER: Rebman AW 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10466890 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature