Socioeconomic Status and Hospital Utilization in Younger Adults with Pneumonia
Author Information
Author(s): Margaret J McGregor, Robert J Reid, Michael Schulzer, J Mark Fitzgerald, Adrian R Levy, Michelle B Cox
Primary Institution: University of British Columbia
Hypothesis
What is the relationship between socioeconomic status and hospital length of stay and early re-admission among younger adults hospitalized with pneumonia?
Conclusion
Financial hardship is associated with a longer hospital stay and a higher risk of early re-admission for pneumonia patients under 65, while neighborhood income levels do not show a significant association.
Supporting Evidence
- Patients with financial hardship had a longer median length of stay of 6 days compared to 4 days for those without.
- Financial hardship was associated with a greater than 2.5-fold increased risk of early re-admission.
- Neighborhood-level income quintiles showed no significant association with length of stay or re-admission.
Takeaway
People who have less money tend to stay in the hospital longer and go back to the hospital more often after being treated for pneumonia.
Methodology
Retrospective, longitudinal cohort analysis using hospital chart reviews and linked administrative data.
Potential Biases
Possible underreporting of financial hardship and missing postal code data may confound results.
Limitations
Potential misclassification and bias due to the retrospective nature of data collection.
Participant Demographics
Patients under 65 years old, with a significant proportion experiencing financial hardship.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.057
Confidence Interval
95% CI -0.4%, +32%
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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