Volume 14, Number 2—February 2008
Research
Effectiveness of Personal Protective Measures to Prevent Lyme Disease
Marietta Vázquez*
, Catherine Muehlenbein*, Matthew L. Cartter†, Edward B. Hayes‡, Starr Ertel†, and Eugene D. Shapiro*
, Catherine Muehlenbein*, Matthew L. Cartter†, Edward B. Hayes‡, Starr Ertel†, and Eugene D. Shapiro*
Table 3
Personal protective measures and risk factors for Lyme disease, Connecticut, July 2000 through February 2003
| Personal protective measures | Case-patients, no. (%) | Matched controls, no. (%) | Odds ratio* (95% CI)† | p value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Use of protective clothing while outdoors | ||||
| Definite | 215 (46) N = 467 | 427 (59) N = 724 | 0.6 (0.5–0.7) | <0.0001 |
| Definite and possible | 265 (46) N = 572 | 524 (58) N = 898 | 0.6 (0.5–0.8) | <0.0001 |
| Unlikely |
72 (53)
N = 137 |
121 (53)
N = 230 |
0.9 (0.6- 1.3) |
0.55 |
| Use of tick repellents on skin or clothing while outdoors | ||||
| Definite | 138 (30) N = 467 | 252 (35) N = 724 | 0.8 (0.6–0.9) | 0.04 |
| Definite and possible | 168 (29) N = 570 | 303 (34) N = 890 | 0.8 (0.6–0.99) | 0.0499 |
| Unlikely |
37 (27)
N = 136 |
64 (28)
N = 228 |
0.9 (0.6–1.5) |
0.83 |
| Spraying property with tick acaricides | ||||
| Definite | 16 (7) N = 237 | 52 (11) N = 467 | 0.6 (0.3–1.1) | 0.09 |
| Definite and possible | 19 (7) N = 285 | 62 (11) N = 557 | 0.6 (0.3–1.0) | 0.06 |
| Unlikely |
3 (8)
N = 36 |
16 (12)
N = 133 |
0.7 (0.2–3.0) |
0.61 |
| Checking the body for ticks after exposure | ||||
| Definite | 360 (77) N = 467 | 560 (77) N = 724 | 1.1 (0.8–1.4) | 0.64 |
| Definite and possible | 443 (77) N = 572 | 703 (78) N = 898 | 1.0 (0.8–1.4) | 0.81 |
| Unlikely | 107 (78) N = 137 | 181 (79) N = 230 | 0.9 (0.5–1.5) | 0.61 |
*All estimates were adjusted for possible confounders (sex, race, receipt of Lyme vaccine, and use of other personal protective measures) with conditional logistic regression.
†CI, confidence interval.
Page created: July 08, 2010
Page updated: July 08, 2010
Page reviewed: July 08, 2010
The conclusions, findings, and opinions expressed by authors contributing to this journal do not necessarily reflect the official position of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Public Health Service, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or the authors' affiliated institutions. Use of trade names is for identification only and does not imply endorsement by any of the groups named above.