Investigating Asthma After Coccidioidomycosis Among Patients With Commercial Health Insurance, United States,...

The relationship between asthma and coccidioidomycosis has not been fully described. We have hypothesised that Coccidioides could trigger inflammatory airway responses, similar to other fungi.

To estimate the frequency of new-onset asthma-related symptoms after coccidioidomycosis and identify potentially associated factors.

We used a large health insurance claims database to identify patients with coccidiomycosis with and without an asthma diagnosis code or a short-acting β₂ agonist prescription in the year after diagnosis.

Thirteen per cent of 1657 patients with an asthma diagnosis code or a short-acting β₂ agonist prescription (median 2.5 months later).

Increased healthcare provider awareness of asthma as a potential coccidioidomycosis complication could benefit patients, especially female patients and patients with severe pulmonary infection.