Thirty-Day Inpatient Readmissions for Asian American and Pacific Islander Subgroups Compared With Whites

Abstract

Asian and Pacific Islander (API) 30-day potentially preventable readmissions (PPRs) are understudied. Hawaii Health Information Corporation data from 2007-2012 statewide adult hospitalizations ( N = 495,910) were used to compare API subgroup and White PPRs. Eight percent of hospitalizations were PPRs. Seventy-two percent of other Pacific Islanders, 60% of Native Hawaiians, and 52% of Whites with a PPR were 18 to 64 years, compared with 22% of Chinese and 21% of Japanese. In multivariable models including payer, hospital, discharge year, residence location, and comorbidity, PPR disparities existed for some API subpopulations 65+ years, including Native Hawaiian men (odds ratio [OR] = 1.14; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.04-1.24), Filipino men (OR = 1.19; 95% CI = 1.04-1.38), and other Pacific Islander men (OR = 1.30; 95% CI = 1.19-1.43) and women (OR = 1.23; 95% CI = 1.02-1.51) compared with Whites, while many API groups 18 to 64 years had significantly lower PPR odds. Distinct PPR characteristics across API subpopulations and age groups can inform policy and practice. Further research should determine why elderly API have higher PPR rates, while nonelderly rates are lower.