Trends in Pediatric and Adult Hospital Stays for Asthma, 2000-2010 - Statistical Brief #169

Trends in Pediatric and Adult Hospital Stays for Asthma, 2000-2010 - Statistical Brief #169

AHRQ Stats

From 2000 to 2010, the average cost of an asthma-related hospital stay for children remained stable at about $3,600, while it increased for adults from $5,200 to $6,600. (Source: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project Statistical Brief #169:Trends in Pediatric and Adult Hospital Stays for Asthma, 2000-2010.)

Highlights

From 2000 through 2010, the rate of pediatric hospital stays for asthma declined from 165 to 130 per 100,000 population, respectively, whereas the rate for adults remained about 119 per 100,000 population. The average cost per asthma-related hospital stay for children remained relatively stable at about $3,600 from 2000 to 2010, whereas the average cost per asthma-related hospital stay for adults increased from $5,200 to $6,600. Among children, the rate of hospital stays for asthma was 54 percent higher for males than females. This pattern was reversed among adults: females had a 129 percent higher rate of hospital stays than males. Rates of asthma-related admission were more than three times higher among African American children and two times higher for African American adults compared with White and Asian and Pacific Islander patients. Pediatric and adult patients in the lowest income communities had consistently higher rates of hospital stays for asthma than those in the highest income communities. Medicaid was the most frequent expected primary payer among children and adults aged 18—44 years; private insurance was the second most frequent payer.