title: The Scope and Trends of Pediatric Hospitalizations in Texas, 2004-2010.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine demographics and trends of financial cost and prominent diseases/conditions resulting in inpatient hospitalizations for infants, children, and adolescents in Texas between 2004 and 2010.
  
  
  METHODS
  Longitudinal retrospective cross-sectional study using the Texas Hospital Inpatient Discharge Database, including all pediatric hospitalizations in the state of Texas, 2004 to 2010.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Texas has an average of 591 571 pediatric hospitalizations per year. Birth was the most common reason for hospitalization, representing 64% of all pediatric hospitalization annually in Texas. Respiratory illnesses were the most common discharge diagnosis for hospitalized children ages 1 month to 9 years and demonstrated a 2% decrease over the study period. The rate of hospitalizations for digestive conditions and childbirth also demonstrated a decrease over this time frame: 4.7% and 3.0%, respectively. The rate of mental illness diagnoses increased 2.5% over the time frame and represented the most common discharge diagnosis for children aged 10 to 14. Childbirth was the most common reason for hospitalization for adolescents aged 15 to 17 years. There was no increase in total cost of pediatric hospitalizations over the time period under study.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  After birth, respiratory illnesses represent the most common reason for hospitalization for children (between 1 month and 10 years of age) in Texas. Mental health conditions and childbirth represent the most common reason for hospitalization for young adolescents (10-14 years) and older adolescents (15-17 years), respectively.
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, University of Texas Health Science Center Houston, Houston, Texas;
authors.forename: Bethanie
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Van Horne
authors.affiliation: Menninger Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas;
authors.forename: Elisabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Netherton
authors.affiliation: Department of Healthcare Management, Metropolitan State University of Denver, Denver, Colorado; and.
authors.forename: Jeffrey
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Helton
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, University of Texas Health Science Center Houston, Houston, Texas;
authors.forename: Mingchen
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fu
authors.affiliation: Center for Clinical Research and Evidence-Based Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas Christopher.S.Greeley@uth.tmc.edu.
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Greeley
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D016208:Databases, Factual; D005260:Female; D017048:Health Care Costs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007297:Inpatients / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology; D010372:Pediatrics / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011253:Pregnancy in Adolescence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013781:Texas