STDs jumped nearly a quarter among seniors during the pandemic

AXIOS July 8, 2024
Tina Reed

Diagnoses of sexually transmitted diseases jumped nearly 24% among seniors ages 65 and older during the pandemic, new data provided first to Axios by FAIR Health shows.

Why it matters: The data points to the need for conversations about the risks of STDs — which can mimic other age-related conditions — with older patients.

What they found: Sexually transmitted disease diagnoses overall rose roughly 5% among commercially insured patients from 2020 to 2023, according to an analysis of FAIR Health’s repository of 47 billion commercial health care claim records.

• Patients aged 65 and older saw the largest increase (24%) in STD diagnoses during that period, per the claims, which include people covered by Medicare Advantage plans.
• The next largest...

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