Characteristics of children having multiple Medicaid-paid asthma hospitalizations.
OBJECTIVE
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.
Chabra
A
A
California Department of Health Services, Maternal and Child Health Branch, Sacramento, USA. achabra@ix.netcom.com
Chávez
G F
GF
Adams
E J
EJ
Taylor
D
D
D001741:Black or African American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D001249:Asthma / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D002140:California / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017722:Hospital Charges; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007902:Length of Stay; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008484:Medicaid / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010359:Patient Readmission / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011203:Poverty; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology