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Pediatric hospitalization profile in Australia: A longitudinal ecological study, 1998 to 2019

Esra' O Taybeh1, Alaa A Alsharif2, Abdallah Y Naser1

  • 1Department of Applied Pharmaceutical Sciences and Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Isra University, Amman, Jordan.

Medicine
|March 13, 2026
PubMed

Insights

Pediatric hospitalizations in Australia rose 23% from 1998-2019, with more same-day admissions and higher rates in females. Respiratory diseases were most common, highlighting needs for prevention and mental health services.

Area of Science:

  • Public Health
  • Pediatric Medicine
  • Health Services Research

Background:

  • Understanding pediatric hospitalization trends is crucial for effective healthcare planning and resource allocation.
  • Previous research indicates shifts in pediatric healthcare utilization, necessitating updated analyses.
  • Australia's healthcare system faces evolving challenges in managing pediatric health needs.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify the most common causes and trends of pediatric hospitalizations in Australia.
  • To analyze changes in hospitalization rates, admission types (same-day vs. overnight), and demographic patterns over a 22-year period (1998-2019).
  • To inform targeted public health interventions and healthcare strategies for the pediatric population.

Main Methods:

  • Ecological study design utilizing the Australian National Hospital Morbidity Database.
  • Analysis of 16,966,610 reported hospital admission episodes among the pediatric population.
  • Examination of trends in annual admissions, same-day vs. overnight stays, principal diagnoses, and sex-specific rates from 1998 to 2019.

Main Results:

  • Total annual pediatric hospital admissions increased by 23.0% between 1998 and 2019.
  • Same-day admissions rose by 22.1%, while overnight-stay admissions declined by 9.7%.
  • Diseases of the respiratory system were the leading cause (15.1%), with notable increases in female hospitalization rates (6.1%) compared to males (0.1%).

Conclusions:

  • Despite an increase in admission counts, the overall hospitalization rate remained stable, indicating a shift towards less intensive care.
  • Rising same-day admissions and higher rates among females necessitate tailored healthcare approaches.
  • The prevalence of respiratory conditions and increasing adolescent hospitalizations, particularly females, underscore the need for enhanced prevention, parental guidance, injury prevention, and youth mental health services.

Keywords:
Australiaadmissionchildrenhospitalizationpediatrics

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