Hospitalization Rates for At-Risk Populations
Author Information
Author(s): Samuel F. Posner, Camillia K. Lui, Steven P. Wallace
Primary Institution: University of California, Los Angeles
Conclusion
The study highlights the need to consider disease prevalence when examining hospitalization rates and suggests that resources may need to be redistributed based on geographic disparities.
Supporting Evidence
- Approximately 74% of geographic areas for hypertension did not change in ranked quintile, indicating adequate resource allocation.
- 31 of the 55 geographic areas for congestive heart failure changed quintile rank, suggesting disparities in care.
Takeaway
The study looked at how many people with chronic conditions like hypertension and heart failure are hospitalized in California, showing that some areas need more help than others.
Methodology
The study used two datasets to calculate hospitalization rates for chronic conditions, comparing traditional methods with disease-prevalence methods.
Limitations
The study does not identify specific areas for policy change and acknowledges the limitations of using administrative and self-reported data.
Participant Demographics
The study focused on populations at risk for chronic conditions in California.
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