Characteristics of children having multiple Medicaid-paid asthma hospitalizations.

A. Chabra, G. F. Chávez, E. J. Adams, D. Taylor

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

22 Scopus citations

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: We undertook this population-based study to describe the characteristics of poor children with multiple asthma hospitalizations and to discern if poor minority children have a greater risk for these events than poor white children. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective analysis of 1994 California hospital discharge data for asthma hospitalizations among 1 to 12-year-old Medicaid patients (N = 6844 discharges). Risk factors for multiple Medicaid asthma hospitalizations were calculated by using logistic regression procedures. RESULTS: In 1994, asthma hospitalizations accounted for 11.6% of Medicaid-funded hospitalizations for 1 to 12-year-olds in California. These hospitalizations had a mean length of 2.7 days and a mean hospital charge of $6532. After we controlled for source of admission and length of stay, African American children (OR, 1.93; 95% CI 1.49-2.49) and Latino children (OR, 1.34; 95% CI 1.04-1.72) had a higher risk of multiple Medicaid-paid hospitalizations for asthma than did white children. Adjusted odds ratios for multiple asthma hospitalizations were 1.35 (CI, 1.05-1.74) for children with emergency room admissions, and 1.16 (CI, 0.97-1.39) for children having hospital stays of at least 5 days duration. CONCLUSIONS: Among children with Medicaid-paid hospitalizations for asthma, the risk for multiple asthma hospitalizations within a year was greater among African Americans and Latinos than among whites. Programs attempting to decrease repeat hospitalizations for asthma may benefit by focusing on these populations.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)223-229
Number of pages7
JournalMaternal and child health journal
Volume2
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 1998

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Epidemiology
  • Pediatrics, Perinatology, and Child Health
  • Obstetrics and Gynecology
  • Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health

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