Prevalence, hospital admissions and costs of child chronic conditions: A population-based study
Author(s)
Bell, Jane
Lingam, Raghu
Wakefield, Claire E
Fardell, Joanna E
Zeltzer, Justin
Hu, Nan
Woolfenden, Sue
Callander, Emily
Marshall, Glenn M
Nassar, Natasha
Griffith University Author(s)
Year published
2020
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
AIM: To determine population-based prevalence, hospital use and costs for children admitted to hospital with chronic conditions. METHODS: We used hospital admissions data for children aged <16 years, 2002-2013 in New South Wales, Australia. RESULTS: Of all admissions, 35% (n = 692 514) included a diagnosis of a chronic condition. In 2013, prevalence was 25.1 per 1000 children. Children with greater socio-economic disadvantage or living in regional and remote areas had lower prevalence, but a higher proportion of emergency admissions. Prevalence rates were highest for respiratory and neurological conditions (9.4, 7.4 per 1000, ...
View more >AIM: To determine population-based prevalence, hospital use and costs for children admitted to hospital with chronic conditions. METHODS: We used hospital admissions data for children aged <16 years, 2002-2013 in New South Wales, Australia. RESULTS: Of all admissions, 35% (n = 692 514) included a diagnosis of a chronic condition. In 2013, prevalence was 25.1 per 1000 children. Children with greater socio-economic disadvantage or living in regional and remote areas had lower prevalence, but a higher proportion of emergency admissions. Prevalence rates were highest for respiratory and neurological conditions (9.4, 7.4 per 1000, respectively). Mental health conditions were most common in older children. Admissions involving chronic conditions had longer length of stay (3.0 vs. 1.6 days), consumed more bed-days (50% of total) and involved 43% of total hospital costs. CONCLUSION: Differences in prevalence and use of hospital services suggest inequities in access and need for more appropriate and equitable models of care.
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View more >AIM: To determine population-based prevalence, hospital use and costs for children admitted to hospital with chronic conditions. METHODS: We used hospital admissions data for children aged <16 years, 2002-2013 in New South Wales, Australia. RESULTS: Of all admissions, 35% (n = 692 514) included a diagnosis of a chronic condition. In 2013, prevalence was 25.1 per 1000 children. Children with greater socio-economic disadvantage or living in regional and remote areas had lower prevalence, but a higher proportion of emergency admissions. Prevalence rates were highest for respiratory and neurological conditions (9.4, 7.4 per 1000, respectively). Mental health conditions were most common in older children. Admissions involving chronic conditions had longer length of stay (3.0 vs. 1.6 days), consumed more bed-days (50% of total) and involved 43% of total hospital costs. CONCLUSION: Differences in prevalence and use of hospital services suggest inequities in access and need for more appropriate and equitable models of care.
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Journal Title
Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health
Note
This publication has been entered in Griffith Research Online as an advanced online version.
Subject
Paediatrics
Reproductive medicine
Clinical sciences
Health services and systems
Public health
Australia
children
chronic condition
hospital admission
prevalence