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. 2023 Aug 22;9(9):867.
doi: 10.3390/jof9090867.

Blastomycosis-Associated Hospitalizations, United States, 2010-2020

Kaitlin Benedict  1 , Ian Hennessee  1   2 , Jeremy A W Gold  1 , Dallas J Smith  1   2 , Samantha Williams  1 , Mitsuru Toda  1
Affiliations

Blastomycosis-Associated Hospitalizations, United States, 2010-2020

Kaitlin Benedict et al. J Fungi (Basel). .

Abstract

Background: Blastomycosis is an environmentally acquired fungal disease that can cause severe illness, with approximately 65% of reported cases requiring hospitalization. Recent trends in blastomycosis-associated hospitalizations in the United States have not been described.

Methods: We analyzed hospital discharge data from the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) National (Nationwide) Inpatient Sample. We calculated hospitalization rates per 100,000 population using U.S. census data and examined factors associated with in-hospital mortality.

Results: An estimated 11,776 blastomycosis-associated hospitalizations occurred during 2010-2020 (average yearly rate 0.3 per 100,000 persons), with no apparent temporal trend. Rates were consistently highest among persons ≥65 years old and males. In-hospital death occurred in 7.9% and approximately doubled from 3.9% in 2010 to 8.5% in 2020. Older age, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and malignancy were associated with mortality.

Conclusions: Blastomycosis-associated hospitalizations can result in poor outcomes, underscoring the continued need for attention to early detection and treatment of blastomycosis and monitoring of disease trends.

Keywords: United States; blastomycosis; epidemiology; hospitalization; mortality.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest. The findings and conclusions in this report are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official position of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Age-specific blastomycosis-associated hospitalization rates per 100,000 population, 2010–2020.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Sex-specific blastomycosis-associated hospitalization rates per 100,000 population, 2010–2020.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Regional blastomycosis-associated hospitalization rates per 100,000 population, 2010–2020.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Blastomycosis-associated hospitalizations by admission season and region, 2010–2020.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Percent of blastomycosis-associated hospitalizations with selected concurrent conditions, 2010–2020.
Figure 6
Figure 6
Percent of blastomycosis-associated hospitalizations with in-hospital mortality, 2010–2020.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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