title: Disparities in Potentially Preventable Hospitalizations for Chronic Conditions Among Korean Americans, Hawaii, 2010-2012.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Korean Americans are a growing but understudied population group in the United States. High rates of potentially preventable hospitalizations suggest that primary care is underutilized. We compared preventable hospitalizations for chronic conditions in aggregate and for congestive heart failure (CHF) for Korean Americans and whites in Hawaii.
  
  
  METHODS
  Discharge data from 2010 to 2012 for all hospitalizations of adults in Hawaii for preventable hospitalizations in aggregate and for CHF included 4,345 among Korean Americans and 81,570 among whites. Preventable hospitalization rates for chronic conditions and CHF were calculated for Korean Americans and whites by sex and age group (18-64 y vs ≥65 y). Unadjusted rate ratios for Korean Americans were calculated relative to whites. Multivariate models, controlling for insurance type and comorbidity, provided adjusted rate ratios (aRRs).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Korean American women and men aged 65 or older were at greater risk of preventable hospitalization overall than white women (aRR, 2.48; P = .003) and white men (aRR, 1.82; P = .049). Korean American men aged 65 or older also were at greater risk of hospitalization for CHF relative to white men (aRR, 1.87; P = .04) and for older Korean American women (aRR, 1.75; P = .07). Younger age groups did not differ significantly.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Older Korean American patients may have significant disparities in preventable hospitalizations, which suggests poor access to or poor quality of primary health care. Improving primary care for Korean Americans may prevent unnecessary hospitalizations, improve quality of life for Korean Americans with chronic illness, and reduce health care costs.
authors.affiliation: BK21 PLUS Program in Embodiment: Health-Society Interaction, Department of Public Health Sciences, Graduate School, Korea University, 145 Anam-Ro, Seongbuk-Gu, Hana Science Hall B-364, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea. Email: manoah930@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Hyun-Hee
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Heo
authors.affiliation: Office of Public Health Studies, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, Hawaii.
authors.forename: Tetine L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Sentell
authors.affiliation: Office of Public Health Studies, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, Hawaii. Dr Li is currently affiliated with the Clinical and Translational Science Institute, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York.
authors.forename: Dongmei
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Biostatistics Core, John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, Hawaii.
authors.forename: Hyeong Jun
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Ahn
authors.affiliation: Hawaii Health Information Corporation, Honolulu, Hawaii.
authors.forename: Jill
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Miyamura
authors.affiliation: Office of Public Health Studies, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, Hawaii.
authors.forename: Kathryn
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Braun
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001213:Asian / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000208:ethnology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D006254:Hawaii / Q000453:epidemiology; D054625:Healthcare Disparities / Q000208:ethnology / Q000592:standards*; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data* / Q000639:trends; D006801:Humans; D007723:Korea / Q000208:ethnology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010351:Patient Discharge / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care / Q000592:standards; D012307:Risk Factors; D044465:White People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult