Hospitalization Frequency and Charges for Neurocysticercosis, United States, 2003–2012

摘要

Neurocysticercosis, brain infection with Taenia solium lar- val cysts, causes substantial neurologic illness around the world. To assess the effect of neurocysticercosis in the Unit- ed States, we reviewed hospitalization discharge data in the Nationwide Inpatient Sample for 2003–2012 and found an estimated 18,584 hospitalizations for neurocysticercosis and associated hospital charges totaling >US $908 million. The risk for hospitalization was highest among Hispanics (2.5/100,000 population), a rate 35 times higher than that for the non-Hispanic white population. Nearly three-quar- ters of all hospitalized patients with neurocysticercosis were Hispanic. Male sex and age 20–44 years also incurred in- creased risk. In addition, hospitalizations and associated charges related to cysticercosis far exceeded those for malaria and were greater than for those for all other ne- glected tropical diseases combined. Neurocysticercosis is an increasing public health concern in the United States, especially among Hispanics, and costs the US health care system a substantial amount of money.