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Infectious disease hospitalizations among infants in the United States
Krista L Yorita1, Robert C Holman, James J Sejvar
1Division of Viral and Rickettsial Diseases, National Center for Zoonotic, Vector-Borne, and Enteric Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Mail Stop A-39, Atlanta, GA 30333, USA. kyorita@cdc.gov
Insights
Infectious disease hospitalizations are common in US infants, particularly respiratory infections. Risk is higher for younger, nonwhite male infants, highlighting disparities and the need for targeted prevention.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Infectious Diseases
- Public Health
Background:
- Infant hospitalizations represent a significant healthcare burden.
- Infectious diseases are a leading cause of infant admissions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe the epidemiology and burden of infectious disease hospitalizations in US infants.
- To identify risk factors and common diagnoses associated with these hospitalizations.
Main Methods:
- Utilized the Kids' Inpatient Database for 2003.
- Analyzed national estimates of infectious disease hospitalizations, rates, and hospital parameters for infants (<1 year).
Main Results:
- Estimated 286,739 infectious disease hospitalizations in US infants, comprising 42.8% of all infant hospitalizations.
- Hospitalization rates were higher in boys and nonwhite infants. Lower respiratory tract infections were the most common diagnosis (59.0%).
- Total annual hospital costs were approximately $690 million, with a median cost of $2235 per hospitalization.
Conclusions:
- Infectious diseases cause substantial healthcare costs and hospital utilization in infants.
- Younger infants, boys, and nonwhite infants face increased risk.
- Reducing respiratory infections and racial disparities can decrease the overall burden.
Objective:
This study describes the burden and epidemiologic features of infectious disease hospitalizations among infants in the United States.
Methods:
Hospitalizations with an infectious disease listed as a primary diagnosis for infants (<1 year of age) in the United States during 2003 were examined by using the Kids' Inpatient Database. National estimates of infectious disease hospitalizations, hospitalization rates, and various hospital parameters were examined.
Results:
During 2003, an estimated 286,739 infectious disease hospitalizations occurred among infants in the United States and accounted for 42.8% of all infant hospitalizations. The national infectious disease hospitalization rate was 7010.8 hospitalizations per 100,000 live births, or approximately 1 infectious disease hospitalization for every 14 infants. The median length of stay was 3 days, and stays totaled >1 million hospital days for infants. Infectious disease hospitalization rates were highest among boys and nonwhite infants. The most commonly listed diagnoses among the infant infectious disease hospitalizations included lower respiratory tract infections (59.0%), kidney, urinary tract, and bladder infections (7.6%), upper respiratory tract infections (6.5%), and septicemia (6.5%). The median cost of an infectious disease hospitalization was $2235, with total annual hospital costs of approximately $690 million, among infants in the United States.
Conclusions:
Infectious disease hospitalizations among infants account for substantial health care expenditures and hospital time in the United States, with respiratory disease hospitalizations constituting more than one half of all hospitalizations. Younger infants, boys, and nonwhite infants were at increased risk for infectious disease hospitalization. Measures to reduce racial disparities and the occurrence of respiratory tract infections should substantially decrease the infectious disease burden among infants.
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