Disparities in Influenza Treatment Among Disabled Medicaid Patients in Georgia

We explored possible disparities in seasonal influenza treatment in Georgia's disabled Medicaid population. We sought to determine whether racial/ethnic, geographic, or gender disparities existed in antiviral drugs usage in the treatment of influenza. Medicaid claims were analyzed from 69 556 c...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:American journal of public health (1971) 2009-10, Vol.99 (S2), p.S378-S382
Main Authors: Leon, Kyla, McDonald, Marian C, Moore, Barbara, Rust, George
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
Adult
African Americans
Antiviral Agents - therapeutic use
Black or African American
Chronic illnesses
Comorbidity
Diabetes
Disabled Persons
Disease management
Female
Geography
Georgia
Health care access
Health disparities
Healthcare Disparities
Hispanic Americans
Hispanic people
Hospice care
Humans
Immunization
Influenza
Influenza, Human - ethnology
Influenza, Human - therapy
Male
Medicaid
Medicare
Middle Aged
Minority & ethnic groups
Odds Ratio
Pandemics
People with disabilities
Population
Primary care
Public health
Research and Practice
Respiratory system
Side effects
United States
White People
Young Adult
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Summary:We explored possible disparities in seasonal influenza treatment in Georgia's disabled Medicaid population. We sought to determine whether racial/ethnic, geographic, or gender disparities existed in antiviral drugs usage in the treatment of influenza. Medicaid claims were analyzed from 69 556 clients with disabilities enrolled in a Georgia Medicaid disease management program. There were 519 patients who met inclusion criteria (i.e., adults aged 18-64 years with an influenza diagnosis on a 2006 or 2007 Medicaid claim). Roughly one third (36.2%) of patients were classified as African American, 44.5% as White, and 19.3% as "other." Most patients had 2 or more comorbid chronic diseases. Antivirals were used in only 14.5% of patients diagnosed with influenza. Treatment rates were nearly 3 times higher for White patients (19.5%) than for African American patients (6.9%). Our analysis suggests limited use of antiviral treatment of influenza overall, as well as significant racial disparities in treatment. Additional studies are needed to further explore this finding and its implications for care of racial/ethnic minority populations during seasonal influenza and for effective pandemic influenza planning for racial/ethnic minority populations.
ISSN:0090-0036
1541-0048
DOI:10.2105/AJPH.2008.157602