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Complete Health Indicator Report of Chlamydia cases

Definition

Rate of newly reported cases of chlamydia by date of diagnosis per 100,000 persons.

Numerator

Number of newly reported cases of chlamydia by date of diagnosis.

Denominator

Number of persons in Utah.

Data Interpretation Issues

Reported chlamydia rates are calculated by dividing the number of cases within the population of interest by the total number of persons within that population, then multiplying by 100,000. It should be noted that rates within small populations are volatile; a small change in the number of cases can noticeably change the rate. This change may look significant, but, statistically, it may not be. Caution is strongly recommended when interpreting small case numbers and rates.

Why Is This Important?

Infections caused by the bacterium ''Chlamydia trachomatis'' are among the most frequently reported notifiable disease in Utah, with 11,107 cases reported in 2022. Almost sixty percent of the reported cases were among persons between 15 and 24 years of age. The overall rate for chlamydia in Utah in 2022 was 328.7 cases per 100,000 persons. Females with chlamydia are at risk for developing pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), and both men and women may become infertile as a result of untreated chlamydia. Untreated chlamydia infections can damage the reproductive systems of both males and females. Susceptibility to more serious infections such as HIV also increases when an individual is infected with chlamydia. In addition, pregnant women with chlamydia can pass the infection to their infant during delivery, potentially resulting in pneumonia or neonatal ophthalmia.

How Are We Doing?

Chlamydia infections continue to be the most frequently reported STI in Utah. In 2022, the rate of chlamydia was 328.7 per 100,000 persons. This is a decrease of 2.3% from 2021. Chlamydia rates in Utah have typically increased during the past ten years, with the exception of slight decreases in 2013 (2.9%), 2020 (6.7%), and 2022 (2.3%). Over the past 10 years, rates in females have averaged twice that of males. Chlamydial infections in both men and women are commonly asymptomatic, yet screenings occur more often among females, resulting in higher rates of reported infections among females. However, with the expanded availability of urine testing, men are increasingly being tested for chlamydial infection. Over the past 10 years in Utah, the chlamydia rate in men increased by 39.1% as compared to a 21.5% increase in women over this period.

How Do We Compare With the U.S.?

Chlamydial infections are the most frequently reported notifiable STI in the U.S., with 1,649,716 cases reported in 2022. Of these reported infections, 66.0% were among those 15 to 24 years of age. The overall rate for chlamydia in the U.S. in 2022 was 495.0 cases per 100,000 persons. The chlamydia rate in Utah is significantly lower than the U.S. rate. In 2022, the chlamydia rate in Utah ranked 44th in the nation. (CDC. [https://www.cdc.gov/std/statistics/2022/tables/2.htm], 2024) In Utah in 2022, persons aged 20 to 24 years reported the highest rates of chlamydia in both males and females. The rate for females in this age group in Utah in 2022 was 1,988.0 cases per 100,000 persons compared with 3,532.3 cases per 100,000 persons in the U.S. in 2022. The rate for males aged 20 to 24 years in Utah in 2022 was 864.3 per 100,000 persons compared with 1,571.2 cases per 100,000 persons in the U.S. in 2022. (CDC. [https://www.cdc.gov/std/statistics/2022/tables/10.htm], 2024)

What Is Being Done?

Persons who test positive for chlamydia are confidentially interviewed by a disease intervention specialist (DIS) from their local health department (LHD) to educate the patient, ensure proper treatment, and to obtain sexual partner information for follow up. This process helps prevent the spread of infection and keeps the patient from becoming reinfected. The Utah Department of Health and Human Services HIV/STD Elimination, Analysis, Response, and Treatment (HEART) program, along with LHDs, currently provide STI (sexually transmitted infection) presentations upon request to a variety of organizations, agencies, and facilities.

Available Services

Local health districts (LHDs) have STI (sexually transmitted infection) clinics located at their LHD where individuals can be tested and treated for STIs at minimal or no cost. Planned Parenthood and other community based organizations have locations throughout Utah that also provide STI services at minimal cost. Condoms are available at these locations. STI presentations are available through the Utah Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) upon request. DHHS also has educational pamphlets available. Utah's consent of minor to treatment law allows adolescents 14 and older to be tested and treated for an STI without the consent of a parent. The exact law can be found here: [https://le.utah.gov/xcode/Title26B/Chapter7/26B-7-S214.html?v=C26B-7-S214_2023050320230503]


Related Indicators

Relevant Population Characteristics

Due to anatomical and hormonal differences, women are more susceptible to acquiring chlamydia than men. Females are also screened for chlamydia more frequently than males. Therefore, women carry an excessive proportion of the chlamydia burden. In 2022, 63.3% of the chlamydia cases reported to the Utah Department of Health and Human Services (7,038 cases) were in females. Adolescent and young adult females 15 to 24 years of age represented 64.4% of the cases among females (4,533 cases). Adolescent and young adults have a higher incidence of chlamydia. In 2022, persons 15 to 24 years of age represented 16.5% of the Utah population but accounted for 56.8% of the reported chlamydia cases (6,313 cases). This can be attributed to increased risky sexual behavior among adolescents and young adults, biochemical differences increasing transmission rates, and increased screening among this age group.

Related Relevant Population Characteristics Indicators:


Health Care System Factors

Chlamydia rates in Utah have generally increased since 2000. This can be attributed to increased screening efforts, use of increasingly sensitive diagnostic testing, efforts to increase reporting by providers and laboratories, and improved information systems for reporting. The recent decrease in chlamydia cases may be attributed to lack of testing, the asymptomatic nature of the infection, empirical treatment, or a decrease of public health intervention services, including partner notification, due to a decline in funding.

Risk Factors

Risk factors for sexually transmitted diseases include: * sexual activity among young adults 25 and younger * multiple sex partners * prior history of STIs * unprotected sex * illicit drug use [[br]] Those who fall within one or more of these categories should be tested for STIs in regular intervals. Sites of infection may include pharynx, rectum, vagina, cervix, and urethra.

Related Risk Factors Indicators:


Health Status Outcomes

Untreated chlamydia in women may advance to PID (pelvic inflammatory disease), resulting in an increased likelihood of ectopic pregnancy, preterm delivery, or infertility. Untreated chlamydia in men may result in infertility.

Related Health Status Outcomes Indicators:




Graphical Data Views

Chlamydia, Utah and U.S., 1992-2022

::chart - missing::

Utah vs. U.S.YearCases per 100,000 Persons
Record Count: 62
Utah199293.6
Utah199387.1
Utah199492.5
Utah199583.9
Utah199676.5
Utah199785.8
Utah1998102.9
Utah1999101.2
Utah200098.0
Utah2001134.3
Utah2002150.5
Utah2003165.0
Utah2004160.6
Utah2005187.2
Utah2006201.5
Utah2007220.2
Utah2008226.1
Utah2009225.8
Utah2010240.5
Utah2011250.6
Utah2012266.5
Utah2013258.8
Utah2014279.7
Utah2015288.6
Utah2016310.8
Utah2017326.6
Utah2018334.6
Utah2019345.6
Utah2020322.6
Utah2021336.3
Utah2022328.7
U.S.1992182.3
U.S.1993178.0
U.S.1994192.5
U.S.1995187.8
U.S.1996190.6
U.S.1997205.5
U.S.1998231.8
U.S.1999247.2
U.S.2000251.4
U.S.2001274.5
U.S.2002289.4
U.S.2003301.7
U.S.2004316.5
U.S.2005329.4
U.S.2006344.3
U.S.2007367.5
U.S.2008398.1
U.S.2009405.3
U.S.2010423.6
U.S.2011453.4
U.S.2012453.3
U.S.2013443.5
U.S.2014452.2
U.S.2015475.0
U.S.2016494.7
U.S.2017524.6
U.S.2018537.5
U.S.2019552.8
U.S.2020481.3
U.S.2021495.5
U.S.2022495.0

Data Notes

Rates were calculated by dividing the number of cases for each year by the total population within that year and multiplying by 100,000. Prior to 2009, Utah rates were calculated using the morbidity report date; effective 2009, rates were calculated using the date of diagnosis.

Data Sources

  • Utah Department of Health and Human Services Office of Communicable Diseases
  • Population Estimates for 1999 and earlier: Utah Governor's Office of Planning and Budget
  • Population Estimates for 2000-2019: National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) through a collaborative agreement with the U.S. Census Bureau, IBIS Version 2020
  • Population estimates used linear interpolation of U.S. Census Bureau, Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute population estimates, and ESRI ZIP Code data provided annual population estimates for ZIP Code areas by sex and age groups, IBIS Version 2022
  • National Center for HIV, STD, and TB Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention


Chlamydia by Age and Sex, Utah, 2022

::chart - missing::

Males vs. FemalesAge GroupCases per 100,000 Population
Record Count: 10
Male15-19365.2
Male20-24864.3
Male25-29700.6
Male30-34475.8
Male35+101.9
Female15-191,354.0
Female20-241,988.0
Female25-29996.8
Female30-34479.3
Female35+87.4

Data Notes

Rates were calculated by dividing the number of cases within each age/gender group by the total population within that group and multiplying by 100,000.

Data Sources

  • Utah Department of Health and Human Services Office of Communicable Diseases
  • For years 2020 and later, the population estimates are provided by the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute, Utah state and county annual population estimates are by single year of age and sex, IBIS Version 2022


Chlamydia by Race/Ethnicity, Utah, 2022

::chart - missing::

Race/Ethnicity GroupCases per 100,000 Persons
Record Count: 7
American Indian/Alaska Native722.9
Asian313.8
Black/African American1,513.1
Hispanic/Latino673.5
Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander1,008.3
Two or more races58.5
White, non-Hispanic/Latino310.1

Data Notes

Rates were calculated by dividing the number of cases within a race/ethnicity group by the population within that group and multiplying by 100,000.

Data Sources

  • Utah Department of Health and Human Services Office of Communicable Diseases
  • Population Estimates by Age, Sex, Race, and Hispanic Origin for Counties in Utah, U.S. Bureau of the Census, IBIS Version 2022


Chlamydia by Local Health District, Utah, 2022

::chart - missing::

Local Health DistrictCases per 100,000 Persons
Record Count: 15
Bear River200.8
Central173.3
Davis County261.4
Salt Lake County479.7
San Juan320.4
Southeast239.5
Southwest261.3
Summit323.1
Tooele219.1
TriCounty157.7
Utah County228.8
Wasatch188.3
Weber-Morgan317.7
State of Utah328.7
U.S.495.0

Data Notes

Rates were calculated by dividing the number of cases within a local health district by the total population in that district and multiplying by 100,000.

Data Sources

  • Utah Department of Health and Human Services Office of Communicable Diseases
  • For years 2020 and later, the population estimates are provided by the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute, Utah state and county annual population estimates are by single year of age and sex, IBIS Version 2022
  • National Center for HIV, STD, and TB Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

References and community resources

Fact sheets for communicable diseases may be found on the Office of Communicable Disease website [https://epi.utah.gov/atozlist/]. STI resources and reports are available on the DHHS HIV/STD, Elimination, Analysis, Response, and Treatment (HEART) Program website [https://epi.utah.gov/ptc-std/]. Screening Guidelines [https://www.cdc.gov/std/treatment-guidelines/screening-recommendations.htm]. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Division of Sexually Transmitted Disease Prevention website [https://www.cdc.gov/std/default.htm]. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. ''Sexually Transmitted Disease Surveillance 2022''. Atlanta: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; 2024. [https://www.cdc.gov/std/statistics/2022/default.htm]. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Sexually Transmitted Infections Treatment Guidelines 2021 [http://www.cdc.gov/std/treatment].

More Resources and Links

Additional indicator data by state and county may be found on these websites:

Medical literature can be queried at PubMed library.

Page Content Updated On 04/29/2024, Published on 07/22/2024
Office of Communicable Diseases, Utah Department of Health and Human Services | Telephone: 801-538-6191 | Website: epi.utah.gov | Email: epi@utah.gov
The information provided above is from the Utah Department of Health and Human Services IBIS-PH website (https://ibis.utah.gov/ibisph-view/). The information published on this website may be reproduced without permission. Please use the following citation: " Retrieved Tue, 05 November 2024 0:48:59 from Utah Department of Health and Human Services, Indicator-Based Information System for Public Health website: https://ibis.utah.gov/ibisph-view/ ".

Content updated: Fri, 26 Jul 2024 17:57:30 MDT