Blacks, Hispanics have higher readmission rates after both vaginal birth, C-section
TUESDAY, Oct. 13, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Black and Hispanic women have significantly higher readmission rates than white women after childbirth, according to a study published online Oct. 5 in Obstetrics & Gynecology.
Robert H. Aseltine Jr., Ph.D., from UConn Health in Farmington, Connecticut, and colleagues analyzed hospital discharge data (from 2005 to 2012) contained in a statewide database maintained by the Connecticut Department of Public Health for patients admitted for vaginal delivery without complication (167,857 women) and cesarean delivery without complication (75,552 women).
The researchers found that 30-day readmission rates were significantly higher among black (28.9/1,000) and Hispanic women (21.4/1,000) compared with white women (12.9/1,000) after cesarean delivery. Similarly higher rates of readmission were observed for vaginal delivery (black women, 14.6/1,000; Hispanic women, 10.7/1,000; white women, 7.5/1,000). For patients covered by Medicaid, rates of 30-day readmission were significantly higher (odds ratio, 1.27-1.3). Racial and ethnic differences in the odds of readmission were not substantially reduced even when the researchers controlled for patient socioeconomic status, comorbidities, and payer.
“Significant racial and ethnic disparities in readmissions were observed for procedures related to childbirth using a statewide database capturing all payers across all acute care hospital settings,” the authors write.
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