title: Blastomycosis mortality rates, United States, 1990-2010.
abstract: Blastomycosis is a potentially fatal fungal infection endemic to parts of North America. We used national multiple-cause-of-death data and census population estimates for 1990-2010 to calculate age-adjusted mortality rates and rate ratios (RRs). We modeled trends over time using Poisson regression. Death occurred more often among older persons (RR 2.11, 95% confidence limit [CL] 1.76, 2.53 for those 75-84 years of age vs. 55-64 years), men (RR 2.43, 95% CL 2.19, 2.70), Native Americans (RR 4.13, 95% CL 3.86, 4.42 vs. whites), and blacks (RR 1.86, 95% CL 1.73, 2.01 vs. whites), in notably younger persons of Asian origin (mean = 41.6 years vs. 64.2 years for whites); and in the South (RR 18.15, 95% CL 11.63, 28.34 vs. West) and Midwest (RR 23.10, 95% CL14.78, 36.12 vs. West). In regions where blastomycosis is endemic, we recommend that the diagnosis be considered in patients with pulmonary disease and that it be a reportable disease.
authors.forename: Diana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Khuu
authors.forename: Shira
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shafir
authors.forename: Benjamin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bristow
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sorvillo
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D001759:Blastomycosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000266:history / Q000401:mortality*; D002423:Cause of Death; D066264:Datasets as Topic; D005006:Ethnicity; D049673:History, 20th Century; D049674:History, 21st Century; D006801:Humans; D012737:Sex Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology