Heterogeneity of Asthma Care Among Hispanic Subgroups

Lower Utilization of Hospital-based Care among Spanish-speaking Hispanics

Bibliographic Data

ID9101429
AuthorsYonsu Kim (0000-0001-5461-150X, Department of Healthcare Administration and Policy, corresponding author), Sheniz Moonie (0000-0002-3192-9205, University of Nevada, Reno), Chris Cochran (0000-0002-6138-623X, Department of Healthcare Administration and Policy, corresponding author)
Year2023
Volume61
Issue7
Pages470-476
Publication date2023-07-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueMedical Care (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0025-7079 • E-ISSN: 1537-1948
PublisherOvid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1097/mlr.0000000000001868
PMID37191547
OpenAlexW4376640556
LanguageEN
References cited27

BACKGROUND: Studies found heterogeneity of asthma prevalence among Hispanic subgroups using survey data but addressed under-diagnosis issues due to limited access to health care and diagnosis bias. OBJECTIVES: To examine heterogeneity by language in health care utilization for asthma among Hispanic subgroups. RESEARCH DESIGN: A retrospective, longitudinal cohort study of Medi-Cal claims data (2018-2019) using logistic regression to estimate the odds ratio of health care utilization for asthma. SUBJECTS: In all, 12,056 (ages 5-64) Hispanics living in Los Angeles were identified as having persistent asthma. MEASURES: Primary language is the predictor variable and outcome measures include ED visits, hospitalizations, and outpatient visits. RESULTS: The odds of ED visits among Spanish-speaking Hispanics were lower than English-speaking Hispanics in the subsequent 6 (95% CI=0.65-0.93) and 12 (95% CI=0.66-0.87) months. Spanish-speaking Hispanics were less likely than their English-speaking counterparts to utilize hospitalization in the 6 months (95% CI=0.48-0.98), while they were more likely to utilize outpatient care (95% CI=1.04-1.24). For Hispanics of Mexican origin, the odds of ED visits among Spanish-speaking Hispanics were also lower in the 6 and 12 months (95% CI=0.63-0.93, 95% CI=0.62-0.83), but their odds of outpatient visits were higher for outpatient visits in the 6 months (95% CI=1.04-1.26). CONCLUSIONS: Spanish-speaking Hispanics with persistent asthma were less likely than English-speaking Hispanics to utilize ED visits and hospitalizations but were more likely to utilize outpatient visits. The findings suggest the reduced burden of asthma among the Spanish-speaking Hispanic subgroup and contribute to explaining the protection effect, specifically among Spanish-speaking Hispanics living in highly segregated communities

Asthma · Family medicine · MEDLINE · Political science · Sociology · Asthma and respiratory diseases · Demography · Health Promotion and Cardiovascular Prevention · Internal Medicine · Medicine · Respiratory and Cough-Related Research

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