Racial Disparities in Hospitalization Due to Ambulatory Care Sensitive Conditions Among U.S. Children with Autism

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Health
• Autism Spectrum Disorder Research
• Health Services Research

Background:

• Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) presents unique healthcare challenges.
• Preventable hospitalizations for Ambulatory Care Sensitive Conditions (ACSCs) indicate potential gaps in primary and chronic care management.
• Understanding disparities in healthcare access for autistic children is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate factors associated with preventable hospitalizations due to ACSCs in children with autism.
• To examine the influence of race and income on hospitalization rates for ACSCs among autistic children.

Main Methods:

• Utilized secondary data from the U.S. Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS).
• Conducted multivariable regression analyses to assess the impact of race and income.
• Defined pediatric ACSCs to include acute (dehydration, gastroenteritis, urinary infection) and chronic conditions (asthma, constipation, diabetes short-term complications).

Main Results:

• Analyzed 21,733 hospitalizations among children with autism; 10% were for pediatric ACSCs.
• Hispanic and Black autistic children had higher odds of ACSCs hospitalization compared to White autistic children.
• Hispanic and Black autistic children in the lowest income bracket showed the highest odds of hospitalization for chronic ACSCs.

Conclusions:

• Significant healthcare access inequities exist for racial/ethnic minority autistic children, particularly for chronic ACSC conditions.
• Findings underscore the need for targeted interventions to address disparities in healthcare for autistic children.
• Addressing socioeconomic and racial/ethnic factors is essential for reducing preventable hospitalizations in this population.