In 2003, racial and ethnic dis-parities existed in the rates of preventable hospitalizations, with blacks generally having the highest rates and Hispanics the second highest rates.
- The disparities were greatest for hospitalizations for chronic conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, and asthma. Compared with non-Hispanic whites, rates of admission for these conditions were about 3 to 5 times greater among blacks, and approximately 2 to 3 times greater among Hispanics.
- Compared with non-Hispanic whites, blacks had higher rates of preventable hospitalizations for 15 of 17 indicators, and Hispanics had higher rates of preventable hospitalizations for 14 of 17 indicators.
- Asians were less likely than non-Hispanic whites to be ad-mitted for preventable hospitali-zations, with 9 of 17 indicators being lowest in Asians.
- Blacks had the highest rates of preventable hospitalizations for all indicators related to diabetes and circulatory diseases. Hospi-talization rates for hypertension and for diabetes without compli-cations were 5 times higher for blacks than for non-Hispanic whites. Hospitalization rates for pediatric asthma, adult asthma, perforated appendix, dehydra-tion, and low birth weight were also highest among blacks.
- Hispanics had the highest rates of admission for elderly asthma, pediatric gastroenteritis, and urinary tract infection.
- Admissions for asthma among patients 65 and older were 1.8 times more likely for Asians than for non-Hispanic whites—the only indicator where hospitaliza-tion rates were higher in Asians.
This Statistical Brief is based on PQI Version 2.1, revision 3. This PQI version includes measures for hospital admission rates for the following 16 ambulatory care-sensitive conditions:
– Lower-extremity amputations among patients with diabetes (a specific, serious, long-term complication of diabetes)
– Diabetes, long-term complications (i.e., chronic conditions such as renal, visual, neurological, and circulatory disorders, including lower-extremity amputations)
– Diabetes, short-term complications (i.e., acute conditions such as diabetic ketoacidosis, hyperosmolarity, and coma)
– Uncontrolled diabetes without complications
– Angina without procedure
– Hypertension
– Congestive heart failure
– Pediatric asthma
– Adult asthma
– Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
– Pediatric gastroenteritis
– Perforated appendix
– Urinary tract infections
– Dehydration
– Bacterial pneumonia
– Low-birth weight
