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This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) All Versions of this Article: AJPH.2008.157602v1 99/S2/S378    most recent Submit a response View Shopping Cart Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Google Scholar Articles by Leon, K. Articles by Rust, G. PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Leon, K. Articles by Rust, G. Related Collections Disability Insurance Access to Care Immunization/Vaccines Other Infections African Americans/Blacks

Kyla Leon, MPH, Marian C. McDonald, DrPH, Barbara Moore, MS and George Rust, MD, MPH

At the time of the study, Kyla Leon was with the National Center for Primary Care, Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA. Barbara Moore and George Rust are with the National Center for Primary Care, Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta. Marian McDonald is with the National Center for Preparedness, Detection, and Control of Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta.

Correspondence: Correspondence should be sent to Marian McDonald, OMWH/DEISS/NCPDCID, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Rd NE, Mailstop D-62 Atlanta, GA 30333 (e-mail: mmcdonald{at}cdc.gov). Reprints can be ordered at http://www.ajph.org by clicking the "Reprints/Eprints" link.

Objectives. 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.

Methods. Medicaid claims were analyzed from 69 556 clients with disabilities enrolled in a Georgia Medicaid disease management program.

Results. 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%).

Conclusions. 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.

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