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Keywords

Arizona; infectious diseases; hospitalization; race; ethnicity; disparities

Disciplines

Epidemiology | Immune System Diseases | Public Health | Virus Diseases

Abstract

Infectious disease (ID) hospitalizations in Arizona, a diverse population with nearly complete race/ethnicity data, were analyzed using the State Inpatient Database for 2005-2008. ID hospitalizations rates were calculated and compared by ID group, race/ethnicity, age, and sex. During 2005-2008, there were 383,597 ID hospitalizations reported in Arizona, resulting in an age-adjusted rate of 1498.1 per 100,000 persons. A range of racial/ethnic disparities in ID hospitalization rates were noted. Persons of Native American and black race/ethnicity had overall ID hospitalization rates higher than the rate for persons of white race/ethnicity; persons of Asian or Pacific Islander race/ethnicity had a lower rate. The lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI) hospitalization rate was the highest rate of all ID groups, followed by cellulitis and septicemia. Persons of black and Native American race had higher LRTI hospitalization rates than persons of white race. Racial/ethnic disparities persist for ID hospitalizations in Arizona. Persons of Native American and black race/ethnicity experience high age-adjusted rates of ID hospitalization. Prevention efforts should focus on high risk race/ethnicity groups and disease groups.


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