title: The impact of neurocysticercosis in california: a review of hospitalized cases.
abstract: To assess the burden of neurocysticercosis (NCC) in California we examined statewide hospital discharge data for 2009. There were 304 cases hospitalized with NCC identified (incidence = 0.8 per 100,000). Cases were mostly Latino (84.9%), slightly more likely to be male than female (men 57.6%, women 42.4%) with an average age of 43.5 years. A majority of cases were hospitalized in Southern California (72.1%) and many were hospitalized in Los Angeles County (44.7%). Men were more likely than women to have severe disease including hydrocephalus (29.7% vs. 18.6%, p = 0.027), resulting in longer hospitalizations (>4 days, 48.0% vs. 32.6%, p = 0.007) that were more costly (charge>$40 thousand men = 46.9% vs. woman = 4.1%, p = 0.026). Six deaths were recorded (2.0%). The total of NCC-related hospital charges exceeded $17 million; estimated hospital costs exceeded $5 million. Neurocysticercosis causes appreciable disease and exacts a considerable economic burden in California.
authors.affiliation: Acute Communicable Disease Control Program, County of Los Angeles Department of Public Health, Los Angeles, California, United States of America. ccroker@ph.lacounty.gov
authors.forename: Curtis
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Croker
authors.forename: Matthew
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Redelings
authors.forename: Roshan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Reporter
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sorvillo
authors.forename: Laurene
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mascola
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Wilkins
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002140:California / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D017048:Health Care Costs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020019:Neurocysticercosis / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D055815:Young Adult