Ten-year hospitalization trends in Mexico

Examining the profile of national and transient and migrants

Bibliographic Data

ID22073448
AuthorsRene Leyva-Flores (0000-0002-5973-4549, Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública), Belkis Aracena-Genao (0000-0001-5454-9531, Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública, corresponding author), Nirma D Bustamante (0000-0002-0282-544X, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), Ietza Bojorquez (0000-0003-1723-7269, El Colegio de la Frontera Norte), Ricardo Cortés-Alcalá (0000-0001-5600-6979, Secretaria de Salud), Diana Gómez-López (0000-0001-8096-187X), Miguel Adonai Pérez-Sastré (Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico)
Year2023
Volume10
Pages1060861-1060861
Publication date2023-01-25
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueFrontiers in Public Health (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 2296-2565 • E-ISSN: 2296-2565
PublisherFrontiers Media SA (PUBLISHER • CH)
DOI10.3389/fpubh.2022.1060861
PMID36761333
OpenAlexW4317914849
LanguageEN
Citations received1
References cited19

Aim: In Mexico, as in other societies, migrants are seen as over-users of health services. However, the extent, distribution, and trends of use over time are unknown. Evidence is needed to inform health policies and improve health services for foreign patients. The objective of this study was to examine factors associated with the distribution and trends of Mexican and foreign resident hospitalizations in Mexican public hospitals from 2010 to 2020. Methods: A graphical and statistical analysis (descriptive and correlational) of discharge trends in public hospitals was carried out. Hospitalization trends were analyzed by country of habitual residence (Mexico, US, Central and South America, and Other Continents), age, sex, primary discharge category, and region of service delivery. Adjusted Poisson modeling was used to examine the factors associated with annual hospitalizations of Mexican and foreign residents. Results: Between 2010 and 2020, there were 26,780,808 hospitalizations in Mexican public hospitals. Of these, 0.05% were of foreign residents. Hospitalizations for Mexican residents remained stable from 2010 to 2019, while those for foreign residents trended upward over the same period. In 2020, hospitalizations of Mexican residents fell by 36.6%, while foreign resident hospitalizations fell by 348.8%. The distribution of hospitalizations by sex was higher among females for all categories of habitual residence, except among US residents. Obstetric discharges were the most common reason for hospitalization among Mexican residents (42.45%), Central and South American residents (42.24%), and residents from Other Continents (13.73%). The average hospital stay was 2 days. Poisson regression confirmed these results, showing that hospitalizations was higher among women (except among foreign residents) and in the ≤ 17 age group. Poisson modeling also showed that trauma injury was the leading cause of discharge for foreign residents after obstetric causes. Discussion: It is unlikely the upward trend in hospitalizations among foreign residents in Mexico from 2010 to 2019 affected the Mexican public health system, given the small proportion (0.05%) of hospitalizations and the brief length of hospital stay. The increased number of hospitalizations during the study period may be explained by local and national measures to facilitate foreign residents' access to hospital services, while the decrease in hospital utilization in 2020 is likely associated with COVID-19. Geographic location and the most frequent primary discharge categories of hospitalizations within each population could provide evidence for modifications to public health policy in Mexico

Environmental health · Geography · Sociology · Computer Science · Demography · Global Healthcare and Medical Tourism · Medicine · Migration, Health and Trauma · Trauma and Emergency Care Studies · Gerontology · Pediatrics