Recent Data Highlights Unprecedented Trends: Malaise, Fatigue, and Soft-Tissue Diagnoses More Common Among Lyme Patients
Recent data from FAIR Health, a prominent independent nonprofit organization, has revealed that Lyme disease claim lines were most frequently filed for individuals within the 51-60 age group from 2018 to 2022. The study, grounded on private insurance claims, reported that this age group accounted for 23.5% of Lyme disease claims. This surpassed the next largest age group, 41-50, by 4.7%.
The data, derived from over 42 billion privately billed healthcare claim records, highlighted some other critical insights:
- Later Diagnoses and Lyme Disease: A considerable cohort of individuals from 2018 to 2022 was investigated to identify subsequent diagnoses associated with Lyme disease. It was found that apart from those over 80, malaise, fatigue, and soft-tissue-related diagnoses were predominantly more common in Lyme patients than the entire patient populace.
- Seasonal Prevalence: Lyme disease diagnoses showed a distinct trend during different months. The disease peaked in June and July, with rural areas seeing a higher claim line percentage than urban areas. However, urban areas had a higher occurrence from November to April.
- State-wise Occurrence: In 2018, New Jersey, North Carolina, Rhode Island, Connecticut, and Massachusetts were the states with the most substantial proportion of Lyme disease diagnoses. By 2022, while New Jersey retained its position, Vermont and Pennsylvania emerged on the list, replacing North Carolina and Massachusetts.
Robin Gelburd, the President of FAIR Health, emphasized that Lyme disease remains a significant public health challenge. FAIR Health is committed to leveraging its expansive repository of claims data to provide meaningful insights into this ailment.
About FAIR Health:
FAIR Health stands as a beacon of transparency in healthcare costs and insurance information. With over 42 billion claim records, it has the most extensive collection of private healthcare claims data. The organization licenses its data products to various stakeholders, including commercial insurers, hospitals, researchers, and more. Besides commercial data, FAIR Health also houses data on Medicare Advantage enrollees. Being HITRUST CSF certified, the organization ensures rigorous data security. It also powers a consumer website, available in English and Spanish, guiding users on health insurance and allowing them to forecast healthcare expenses. The contributions of FAIR Health have been recognized by various institutions, cementing its role in enhancing healthcare transparency.