Calculating Hospitalization Rates for Chronic Conditions in California
Author Information
Author(s): Camillia Lui, Steven P. Wallace
Primary Institution: University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)
Hypothesis
Prevalence-adjusted hospitalization rates would highlight areas with higher ACSC burden.
Conclusion
More accurate measures of ACSC hospitalization rates are needed to improve the validity of assessments of primary care services.
Supporting Evidence
- Hospitalization rates for ACSC serve as an indicator of access to and quality of primary care.
- Counties with high hospitalization rates for hypertension did not change rankings when adjusting for prevalence.
- Adjusting for disease prevalence significantly changed county rankings for congestive heart failure hospitalizations.
Takeaway
This study looked at how to better measure hospitalizations for conditions that can be treated without going to the hospital. It found that adjusting for how many people have these conditions gives a clearer picture of healthcare quality.
Methodology
The study combined California Health Interview Survey and hospital discharge data to calculate hospitalization rates for hypertension and congestive heart failure.
Potential Biases
Potential underdiagnosis of chronic conditions and sampling biases may limit the accuracy of findings.
Limitations
The study's reliance on self-reported data for disease prevalence may underestimate true prevalence, and hospitalization rates can vary widely by demographic factors.
Participant Demographics
Adults aged 18 years or older from California.
Statistical Information
Confidence Interval
95% CI
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