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Multiple admissions under 2 years of age
1Northern General Hospital, Sheffield.
Archives of Disease in Childhood
|August 1, 1991
Summary
Hospital admissions for children under two increased between 1980 and 1985, particularly for those with multiple admissions. This highlights the need for individual tracking in pediatric healthcare analysis.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Hospital admission rates are crucial indicators of child health.
- Understanding trends in pediatric admissions is vital for resource allocation and healthcare planning.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze changes in hospital admission rates for children under two years of age between two birth cohorts (1980 and 1985).
- To identify trends in admission frequency, focusing on multiple admissions.
Main Methods:
- Comparison of two complete birth cohorts from a defined geographical area, born five years apart.
- Analysis of individual child admission data to track frequency and timing of hospitalizations.
Main Results:
- Overall admission rates increased from 209 to 247 per 1000 children.
- A significant rise in multiple admissions (three or more) was observed, with these children accounting for over 30% of all admissions.
- 76% of children in the 1985 cohort had their first hospital admission before their first birthday.
Conclusions:
- Individual tracking of children is essential for accurate analysis of hospital admission data.
- The increasing trend in pediatric hospital admissions, especially multiple admissions, warrants further investigation into underlying causes.
- Cohort data from defined populations provide reliable insights into healthcare utilization trends.