NTM Cases Up, Especially Among Women and Older Adults

A study in the Annals of the American Thoracic Society found a significant uptick of nontuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) lung disease infections, especially among women and adults aged 65 or older, reports Contagion Live . About 27 million individuals were posted annually in the national managed care claims database the investigators used, representing a geographically diverse population between 2007 and 2016. The yearly incidence of NTM rose from 3.13 to 4.37 between 2008 and 2015 per 100,000 person-years, while the annual prevalence climbed from 6.78 to 11.70 per 100,000 person-years. NTM incidence also increased by at least 10 percent in 29 states, with Hawaii and Arizona consistently in the high range in 2008 and 2015. Moreover, the prevalence of NTM rose by at least 10 percent in 39 states. The annual incidence increased from 12.70 to 18.37 per 100,000 person-years among adults 65 years and older, and annual prevalence grew for older adults from 30.27 to 47.48 per 100,000 person-years. "In the last five to 10 years, we've seen increased interest from industries for drug development, government for funding science around why people get this disease," noted Oregon Health & Science University's Kevin L. Winthrop. "It sets the stage for further development along those lines."