title: Medical and Indirect Costs Associated with a Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever Epidemic in Arizona, 2002-2011.
abstract: Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF) is an emerging public health issue on some American Indian reservations in Arizona. RMSF causes an acute febrile illness that, if untreated, can cause severe illness, permanent sequelae requiring lifelong medical support, and death. We describe costs associated with medical care, loss of productivity, and death among cases of RMSF on two American Indian reservations (estimated population 20,000) between 2002 and 2011. Acute medical costs totaled more than $1.3 million. This study further estimated $181,100 in acute productivity lost due to illness, and $11.6 million in lifetime productivity lost from premature death. Aggregate costs of RMSF cases in Arizona 2002-2011 amounted to $13.2 million. We believe this to be a significant underestimate of the cost of the epidemic, but it underlines the severity of the disease and need for a more comprehensive study.
authors.forename: Naomi A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Drexler
authors.forename: Marc S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Traeger
authors.forename: Jennifer H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: McQuiston
authors.forename: Velda
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: Charlene
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hamilton
authors.forename: Joanna J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Regan
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001130:Arizona / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D017281:Cost of Illness; D058872:Epidemics / Q000191:economics* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D017048:Health Care Costs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007198:Indians, North American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012373:Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever / Q000191:economics* / Q000453:epidemiology; D018582:Sick Leave / Q000191:economics; D055815:Young Adult