Association of Income Inequality With Pediatric Hospitalizations for Ambulatory Care-Sensitive Conditions.
JAMA Pediatr
; 171(6): e170322, 2017 06 05.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-28384773
ABSTRACT
Importance The level of income inequality (ie, the variation in median household income among households within a geographic area), in addition to family-level income, is associated with worsened health outcomes in children. Objective:
To determine the influence of income inequality on pediatric hospitalization rates for ambulatory care-sensitive conditions (ACSCs) and whether income inequality affects use of resources per hospitalization for ACSCs. Design, Setting, andParticipants:
This retrospective, cross-sectional analysis used the 2014 State Inpatient Databases of the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project of 14 states to evaluate all hospital discharges for patients aged 0 to 17 years (hereafter referred to as children) from January 1 through December 31, 2014. Exposures Using the 2014 American Community Survey (US Census), income inequality (Gini index; range, 0 [perfect equality] to 1.00 [perfect inequality]), median household income, and total population of children aged 0 to 17 years for each zip code in the 14 states were measured. The Gini index for zip codes was divided into quartiles for low, low-middle, high-middle, and high income inequality. Main Outcomes andMeasures:
Rate, length of stay, and charges for pediatric hospitalizations for ACSCs.Results:
A total of 79â¯275 hospitalizations for ACSCs occurred among the 21â¯737â¯661 children living in the 8375 zip codes in the 14 included states. After adjustment for median household income and state of residence, ACSC hospitalization rates per 10â¯000 children increased significantly as income inequality increased from low (27.2; 95% CI, 26.5-27.9) to low-middle (27.9; 95% CI, 27.4-28.5), high-middle (29.2; 95% CI, 28.6-29.7), and high (31.8; 95% CI, 31.2-32.3) categories (P < .001). A significant, clinically unimportant longer length of stay was found for high inequality (2.5 days; 95% CI, 2.4-2.5 days) compared with low inequality (2.4 days; 95% CI, 2.4-2.5 days; P < .001) zip codes and between charges ($765 difference among groups; P < .001). Conclusions and Relevance Children living in areas of high income inequality have higher rates of hospitalizations for ACSCs. Consideration of income inequality, in addition to income level, may provide a better understanding of the complex relationship between socioeconomic status and pediatric health outcomes for ACSCs. Efforts aimed at reducing rates of hospitalizations for ACSCs should consider focusing on areas with high income inequality.
Texto completo:
1
Banco de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Servicios de Salud del Niño
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Hospitalización
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Renta
Tipo de estudio:
Diagnostic_studies
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Observational_studies
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Prevalence_studies
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Risk_factors_studies
Límite:
Adolescent
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Child
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Child, preschool
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Female
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Humans
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Infant
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Male
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Newborn
País/Región como asunto:
America do norte
Idioma:
En
Revista:
JAMA Pediatr
Año:
2017
Tipo del documento:
Article