Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2014 Dec;73(12 Suppl 3):8-13.

Disparities in diabetes-related preventable hospitalizations among working-age Native Hawaiians and Asians in Hawai'i

Tetine L Sentell  1 , Deborah T Juarez  1 , Hyeong Jun Ahn  1 , Chien-Wen Tseng  1 , John J Chen  1 , Florentina R Salvail  1 , Jill Miyamura  1 , Marjorie K Mau  1
Affiliations

Disparities in diabetes-related preventable hospitalizations among working-age Native Hawaiians and Asians in Hawai'i

Tetine L Sentell et al. Hawaii J Med Public Health. 2014 Dec.

Abstract

Elderly (65+) Native Hawaiian, Filipino, and Japanese men and Filipino women have a higher risk of diabetes-related potentially preventable hospitalizations than Whites even when demographic factors and the higher diabetes prevalence in these populations is considered. The study objective was to determine if similar disparities are seen among the non-elderly (< 65). We used discharge data for all non-maternity hospitalizations by working-age adults (18-64 years) in Hawai'i from December 2006 to December 2010. Annual diabetes-related preventable hospitalization rates (by population diabetes prevalence) were compared by race/ethnicity (Japanese, Chinese, Native Hawaiian, Filipino, and White) and gender. Adjusted rate ratios (aRR) were calculated relative to Whites using multivariable models controlling for insurer, comorbidity, residence location, and age. After adjusting for ethnic-specific prevalence of diabetes and demographic factors, preventable hospitalizations rates were significantly higher for Native Hawaiians males (aRR:1.48; 95%CI:1.08-2.05) compared to Whites, but significantly lower for Chinese men (aRR:0.43;95%CI:0.30-0.61) and women (aRR:0.18;95%CI: 0.08-0.37), Japanese men (aRR:0.33;95%CI: 0.25-0.44) and women (aRR:0.34; 95%CI:0.23-0.51), and Filipino men (aRR:0.35;95%CI:0.28-0.43) and women (aRR:0.47;95%CI: 0.36-0.62). Rates for Native Hawaiian females did not differ significantly from Whites. Disparities in diabetes-related preventable hospitalizations were seen for working-age (18-64) Native Hawaiian men even when their higher population-level diabetes prevalence was considered. Further research is needed to determine factors affecting these disparities and to develop targeted interventions to reduce them. Significantly lower preventable hospitalization rates were seen among Asian groups compared to Whites. A better understanding of these findings may provide guidance for improving rates among Asian elderly as well as other non-elderly groups with disparities.

Keywords: Asians; Diabetes; Hospitalizations; Pacific Islanders.

PubMed Disclaimer

Similar articles

See all similar articles

Cited by

See all "Cited by" articles

References

    1. Mau M, Sinclair K, Saito E, et al. Cardiometabolic health disparities in Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders. Epidemiology Review. 2009;31:113–129. - PMC - PubMed
    1. King GL, McNeely MJ, Thorpe LE, et al. Understanding and addressing unique needs of diabetes in Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders. Diabetes Care. 2012;35:1181–118. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Agency for Health Research and Quality (AHRQ), author Prevention Quality Indicators Overview. AHRQ Quality Indicators. 2011. [March 31, 2011]. Available from: http://www.qualityindicators.ahrq.gov/pqi_overview.htm.
    1. McCarthy D, How SKD, Schoen C, et al. Aiming Higher: Results from a State Scorecard on Health System Performance. The Commonwealth Fund Commission on a High Performance Health System. 2009. [October 21, 2011]. Available from: http://www.commonwealthfund.org/~/media/Files/Publications/Fund%20Report....
    1. Boutwell A, Jencks S, Nielsen, et al. STate Action on Avoidable Rehospitalizations (STAAR) Initiative: Applying early evidence and experience in front-line process improvements to develop a state-based strategy. Cambridge, MA: Institute for Healthcare Improvement; 2009. [May 21, 2013]. Available from: http://www.ihi.org/offerings/Initiatives/STAAR/Documents/STAAR%20State%2....

Publication types