Blacks, Hispanics Hospitalized More Often for Diabetes, Heart Disease

TUESDAY, Aug. 15 (HealthDay News) -- Black and Hispanics are hospitalized more often in the United States than non-Hispanic whites for diabetes and other health problems, researchers report.

That's a costly trend, since many of these conditions can be prevented or controlled through good quality outpatient care, concludes a report recently released by the U.S. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

The findings are based on 2003 statistics.

Compared to non-Hispanic whites:

• Blacks were nearly five times more likely and Hispanics were 3.6 times more likely to be hospitalized for uncontrolled diabetes.
• Blacks were 3.5 times more likely and Hispanics were 2.9 times more likely to be hospitalized for diabetes-related amputation of a foot or a leg.
• Blacks were nearly five times more likely and Hispanics were 2.4 times more likely to be hospitalized for high blood pressure.
• Blacks were 2.5 times more likely and Hispanics were 1.7 times more likely to be hospitalized for congestive heart failure.
• Blacks had the highest hospitalization rates for adult and childhood asthma, perforated appendix, and dehydration. Blacks also had the highest rate of low-weight infant births.
• Hispanics had the highest hospitalization rates for asthma in elderly people, pediatric gastroenteritis, and urinary tract infection.