New Latent Tuberculosis Study Findings Recently Were Reported by Researchers at University of North Texas (Predictors of latent tuberculosis…

Managed Care Weekly Digest

New Latent Tuberculosis Study Findings Recently Were Reported by Researchers at University of North Texas (Predictors of latent tuberculosis infection treatment completion in the US private sector: an analysis of administrative claims data)

By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at Managed Care Weekly Digest -- Investigators publish new report on Mycobacterium Infections - Latent Tuberculosis. According to news reporting from Fort Worth, Texas, by NewsRx journalists, research stated, "Factors that affect latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) treatment completion in the US have not been well studied beyond public health settings. This gap was highlighted by recent health insurance-related regulatory changes that are likely to increase LTBI treatment by private sector healthcare providers."

The news correspondents obtained a quote from the research from the University of North Texas, "We analyzed LTBI treatment completion in the private healthcare setting to facilitate planning around this important opportunity for tuberculosis (TB) control in the US. We analyzed a national sample of commercial insurance medical and pharmacy claims data for people ages 0 to 64 years who initiated daily dose isoniazid treatment between July 2011 and March 2014 and who had complete data. All individuals resided in the US. Factors associated with treatment completion were examined using multivariable generalized ordered logit models and bivariate Kruskal-Wallis tests or Spearman correlations. We identified 1072 individuals with complete data who initiated isoniazid LTBI treatment. Treatment completion was significantly associated with less restrictive health insurance, age < 15 years, patient location, use of interferon-gamma release assays, non-poverty, HIV diagnosis, immunosuppressive drug therapy, and higher cumulative counts of clinical risk factors. Private sector healthcare claims data provide insights into LTBI treatment completion patterns and patient/provider behaviors."

According to the news reporters, the research concluded: "Such information is critical to understanding the opportunities and limitations of private healthcare in the US to support treatment completion as this sector's role in protecting against and eliminating TB grows."

For more information on this research see: Predictors of latent tuberculosis infection treatment completion in the US private sector: an analysis of administrative claims data. BMC Public Health, 2018;18():1-13. BMC Public Health can be contacted at: Biomed Central Ltd, 236 Grays Inn Rd, Floor 6, London WC1X 8HL, England. (BioMed Central - www.biomedcentral.com/; BMC Public Health - www.biomedcentral.com/bmcpublichealth/)

Our news journalists report that additional information may be obtained by contacting E.L. Stockbridge, Univ North Texas, Hlth Sci Center, Inst Patient Safety, Fort Worth, TX 76107, United States. Additional authors for this research include T.L. Miller, E.K. Carlson and C. Ho (see also Mycobacterium Infections - Latent Tuberculosis).

Keywords for this news article include: Fort Worth, Texas, United States, North and Central America, Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections, Actinomycetales Infections, Mycobacterium Tuberculosis, Mycobacterium Infections, Investment and Finance, Risk and Prevention, Health and Medicine, Latent Tuberculosis, Health Insurance, University of North Texas.