Blacks, Latinos With Diabetes More Likely To Be Hospitalized
Hospitalizations for potentially preventable diabetes-related complications and other conditions are more likely among blacks and Latinos than among non-Latino whites and Asians, according to a report released on Wednesday by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, the Washington Times reports. For the report, AHRQ researchers analyzed data from the 2003 State Inpatient Databases, which use medical records from a sample of hospitals in 23 states. The study finds:
- Blacks had a rate of hospitalizations for diabetes-related complications of 306.5 per 100,000 patients; Latinos had a rate of 245.6 per 100,000 patients; whites had a rate of 89.1 per 100,000 patients; and Asians had a rate of 84.1 per 100,000 patients.
- Blacks had a rate of hospitalizations for diabetes-related foot amputations of 98.7 per 100,000 patients; Latinos had a rate of 81.8 per 100,000 patients; whites had a rate of 28.4 per 100,000 patients; and Asians had a rate of 19.2 per 100,000 patients.
- Blacks had a rate of hospitalizations for high blood pressure of 98.7 per 100,000 patients; Latinos had a rate of 81.8 per 100,000 patients; whites had a rate of 31.8 per 100,000 patients; and Asians had a rate of 29.1 per 100,000 patients.
- Blacks had the highest rate of hospitalizations for congestive heart failure, adult and pediatric asthma, perforated appendixes and dehydration.
- Latinos had the highest rate of preventable hospitalizations for elderly asthma, pediatric gastroenteritis and urinary tract infections.
Report author Roxanne Andrews said, "The magnitude of these disparities was so high it surprised me," adding, "We want get a better handle on why these disparities occur and ... see how states are responding" (Howard Price, Washington Times, 8/3). This is part of the California Healthline Daily Edition, a summary of health policy coverage from major news organizations. Sign up for an email subscription.