POTENTIALLY AVOIDABLE HOSPITALIZATIONS - INEQUALITIES IN RATES BETWEEN US SOCIOECONOMIC GROUPS

Objectives. The National Hospital Discharge Survey (NHDS) was used to evaluate potentially avoidable hospital conditions as an indicator of equity and efficiency in the US health care system. Methods. With the use of 1990 data from the NHDS, the National Health Interview Survey, and the census, national rates of hospitalization were calculated for avoidable conditions by age, race, median income of zip code, and insu rance status. Results. An estimated 3.1 million hospitalizations were for potentially avoidable conditions. This was 12% of all hospitalizat ions in 1990 (excluding psychiatric admissions, women with deliveries, and newborns). Rates of potentially avoidable hospitalizations were h igher for persons living in middle- and low-income areas than for pers ons living in high-income areas, and were higher among Blacks than amo ng Whites. These class and racial differences were also found among th e privately insured. Differences among income and racial groups for pe rsons aged 65 and over were not significant. Conclusions. Inequalities in potentially avoidable hospitalizations suggest inequity and ineffi ciency in the health care delivery system. Avoidable hospital conditio ns are a useful national indicator to monitor access to care.