Re-hospitalization after diagnosis of diabetes varies by gender and socioeconomic status in urban African-American and Latino young people

Abstract: Purpose: To examine risk factors for re‐hospitalization after diagnosis of diabetes mellitus amongst urban minority children. Methods: Families of insulin‐treated African‐American and Latino patients aged < 18 yr at diagnosis (n = 216) were interviewed about sociodemographics and other characteristics, on average 5.9 yr after diagnosis. Results and conclusions: About 60% of respondents were re‐hospitalized at least once for diabetes‐related reasons (n = 128). Half of those questioned had Medicaid or no health insurance at all; 23% fit criteria for a non‐autoimmune, type 2 diabetic phenotype. Those who avoided re‐hospitalization were more likely to have been seen initially at a tertiary care facility, to have private health insurance, and to be males. They had, on average, 2 yr shorter duration of diabetes at the time of interview. Risk for re‐hospitalization was not associated with age at diagnosis, ethnicity, diabetic phenotype, or source of care during the past year. In multivariate analysis, predictors of re‐hospitalization were gender [odds ratio (OR) 1.98 for females vs. males (95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.05–3.72)], duration of diabetes [OR = 1.46 per yr (95% CI = 1.36–1.57)], initial ascertainment at a community hospital [OR = 5.44 vs. tertiary care facility (95% CI = 2.61–11.29)] and having Medicaid or no insurance [OR = 2.73 (95% CI = 1.42–5.24)], compared with those with another type of health insurance. There is a high risk of re‐hospitalization after the initial diagnosis of diabetes among insulin‐treated minority children, particularly the uninsured and those on Medicaid, in part related to duration of disease and where the initial treatment occurred.