Investigating Asthma After Coccidioidomycosis Among Patients With Commercial Health Insurance, United States, 2017-2022

Mycoses. 2025 Feb;68(2):e70033. doi: 10.1111/myc.70033.

Abstract

Background: 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.

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

Patients/methods: 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.

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

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

Keywords: United States; asthma; coccidioidomycosis; health insurance.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Asthma* / drug therapy
  • Asthma* / epidemiology
  • Asthma* / etiology
  • Coccidioidomycosis* / complications
  • Coccidioidomycosis* / epidemiology
  • Databases, Factual
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Insurance, Health* / statistics & numerical data
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • United States / epidemiology
  • Young Adult