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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
Carol C. Korenbrot, PhD1, Sara J. Ehlers1, and James Crouch2. (1) Institute for Health Policy Studies, University of California San Francisco, Box 0936, San Francisco, CA 94143-0936, 415/476-3094, ckoren@itsa.ucsf.edu, (2) Executive Director, California Rural Indian Health Board, 1451 River Park Drive, Suite 220, Sacramento, CA 95815
Objective: To directly compare state hospitalization rates and ‘avoidable’ hospitalization rates for rural AI/AN and non-Indians in a state where both groups use the same hospitals. Populations: AI/AN users of rural Indian Health Programs in California were identified in IHS Active User files (43,255 AI) and linked by SSN to state hospital discharge files for FFY96 (N=3,920 hospitalizations). The Non-Indian group consisted of residents of the same counties in the same discharge files after exclusion of AI/AN (N=868,335 hospitalizations). Findings: AI/AN had both higher hospitalization and avoidable hospitalization rates than non-Indians. Hospitalization rates for men and women of every age category were significantly higher. For men risk ratios of hospitalizations for AI/AN relative to non-Indians ranged from a low of 30% higher among teens to 200% higher among elders. For women they ranged from 30% higher among ages 25-34 to 200% higher for girls. Avoidable hospitalization rates for men of every age category, and women of all but the oldest category were significantly higher. For men the risk ratios of avoidable hospitalizations ranged from a low of about 50% higher among ages 15-44 to nearly 300% higher among ages 45-64. For women the age pattern was different. Risk ratios ranged from a low of about 50% higher for ages 45-64 to more than 200% higher for ages 1-15 and 15-44. Conclusions: AI/AN had significantly more hospitalizations than non-Indians regardless of age or gender group. At least part of these hospitalizations could be avoided with better access to quality ambulatory care.
Learning Objectives: Participants will learn
Keywords: American Indians, Access and Services
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.