title: Factors that predict frequency of emergency department utilization in children with diabetes-related complaints.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The primary purpose of the study was to determine the factors that are associated with repeat emergency department (ED) visits in children with diabetes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Emergency department charts and billing data for children up to 18 years of age presenting to the ED with diabetic diagnoses over a 4-year period were reviewed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The overall rate of repeat visits to the ED was 0.24 visits per person-year of follow-up time. In univariate analyses, there were statistically significant effects of age, insurance category, sex, type of practice, and income. In a multivariate analysis, there was a significant interaction of insurance category and age. Revisit rate ratios for children older than 6 years were higher for those with Medicaid compared with those with commercial insurance. Diabetic boys were less likely to revisit the ED than were girls.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Type of insurance was associated with repeated visits to the ED in children with diabetes. Other contributing factors included age group and sex.
authors: Division of Pediatric Emergency Medicine, Department of Emergency Medicine, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA. gpark@salud.unm.edu
authors: Joo-Hee Grace
authors: JH
authors: Park
authors: James G
authors: JG
authors: Linakis
authors: Betty J
authors: BJ
authors: Skipper
authors: Susan M
authors: SM
authors: Scott
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D048909:Diabetes Complications / Q000628:therapy; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000191:economics* / Q000628:therapy; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007348:Insurance, Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D014481:United States