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Factors that predict frequency of emergency department utilization in children with diabetes-related complaints

Joo-Hee Grace Park1, James G Linakis, Betty J Skipper

  • 1Division of Pediatric Emergency Medicine, Department of Emergency Medicine, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA. gpark@salud.unm.edu

Pediatric Emergency Care
|June 30, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Insurance type, age, and sex are linked to repeat emergency department (ED) visits in children with diabetes. Understanding these factors can help reduce healthcare utilization for pediatric diabetes patients.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Endocrinology
  • Health Services Research
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Repeat emergency department (ED) visits represent a significant burden on healthcare systems and can indicate suboptimal chronic disease management.
  • Identifying factors associated with recurrent ED use in pediatric populations is crucial for developing targeted interventions.
  • Children with diabetes mellitus are a vulnerable group with potential for frequent healthcare encounters.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the demographic and socioeconomic factors associated with repeat emergency department (ED) visits among children diagnosed with diabetes.
  • To determine the relationship between insurance status, age, sex, and ED revisit rates in pediatric diabetes patients.

Main Methods:

  • A retrospective review of emergency department (ED) charts and billing data was conducted.
  • The study included children aged 0-18 years with diabetes diagnoses presenting to the ED over a four-year period.
  • Statistical analyses, including univariate and multivariate models, were employed to identify significant predictors of repeat ED visits.

Main Results:

  • The overall rate of repeat ED visits was 0.24 visits per person-year.
  • Univariate analyses indicated that age, insurance category, sex, practice type, and income were significantly associated with repeat ED visits.
  • Multivariate analysis revealed a significant interaction between insurance category and age, with children over 6 years with Medicaid insurance showing higher revisit rates compared to those with commercial insurance. Diabetic boys had lower revisit rates than girls.

Conclusions:

  • Insurance type is a significant predictor of repeat emergency department (ED) visits in children with diabetes.
  • Age group and sex also play a role in the frequency of ED revisits for pediatric diabetes care.
  • Findings suggest a need for tailored interventions addressing insurance-related disparities and age-specific needs in managing pediatric diabetes to reduce ED utilization.
Abstract

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