Health outcomes and costs for injured young people hospitalised with and without chronic health conditions

Abstract

Background: The prevalence of chronic health conditions such as diabetes among young people is increasing. Limited information is known about the impact of these conditions on young people who have been traumatically injured. Injury is the global leading cause of death and disability in young people. The aim of this study is to compare health outcomes for injured young people with and without chronic health conditions.

Method: A retrospective examination of injury in young people aged≤25years with and without a chronic health condition using linked hospitalisation and mortality records during 1 January 2010 to 30 June 2014 in New South Wales, Australia. Health outcomes, including hospital length of stay (LOS), 28-day unplanned hospital readmission, hospital treatment costs, and 30-day and 12-month mortality were examined. A 1:1 matched design was used to determine excess mean hospital LOS and cost for young people with a chronic health conditions versus no health condition.

Results: There were 184,819 injury-related hospitalisations of young people; 13.8% had a chronic health condition. Compared to young people who did not have a chronic health condition, those with one were found to have double the mean hospital cost, higher unplanned hospital readmission, and a higher rate of mortality. Injured young people had a three times higher likelihood of having a prolonged LOS if they had a chronic health condition (Adjusted odds ratio: 3.89; 95% CI: 3.69-4.11). Renal conditions, anaemia, coagulation defects, hypertension, and mental health conditions had the highest excess LOS and anaemia, hypertension, coagulation defects and renal conditions had the highest excess mean cost for matched injured individuals with and without the health condition.

Conclusions: Health outcomes following injury are worse for young people with a chronic health condition. The increasing prevalence of young people with a chronic health condition has implications for treatment, resource use, provision of support services, and survival following traumatic injury.

Keywords: Chronic health condition; Hospitalisation; Injury; Mortality.