Coccidioidomycosis: An underreported cause of death—Arizona, 2008–2013. (8th June 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Jones, Jefferson M; Koski, Lia; Khan, Mohammed; Brady, Shane; Sunenshine, Rebecca; Komatsu, Ken K
• Is Part Of: Medical mycology. Volume 56:Number 2(2018)
• Page Start: 172
• Page End: 179
• Publication Date: 2017-06-08
• Subjects: coccidioidomycosis -- cause of death -- epidemiology -- surveillance -- capture-recapture; Medical mycology -- Periodicals; Veterinary mycology -- Periodicals; Mycology -- Periodicals; Mycoses -- Periodicals; Pathogenic fungi -- Periodicals; 616.969005
• DOI: 10.1093/mmy/myx041
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1369-3786

Abstract

Abstract: In Arizona during 1997–2013, coccidioidomycosis increased from 21 to 90 cases/100, 000 population, but coccidioidomycosis-associated deaths remained stable at 3–6 deaths/million population. We used the capture-recapture method by using death certificates and hospital discharge data to more fully estimate the total number of coccidioidomycosis-attributable deaths and compared this with published estimates. Death certificates were included if any cause of death included coccidioidomycosis; hospital discharge data deaths were included if any discharge diagnosis included coccidioidomycosis and laboratory confirmation. Among deaths during 2008–2013, we identified 529 coccidioidomycosis-attributable deaths from death certificates and 560 from hospital discharge data, with 251 deaths identified in both databases. Capture-recapture estimated 1, 178 total coccidioidomycosis-attributable deaths, compared with 164 deaths (underlying cause of death) or 529 deaths (any cause of death) on death certificates. Coccidioidomycosis-attributable deaths are underreported from two- to sevenfold on Arizona death certificates, demonstrating an education need for death certifiers to document coccidioidomycosis mortality.