Health Care Utilization

 
Children & Adolescents Rheumatologic Conditions
VII.B.9.1
 

Lead Author(s): 

Aimee O. Hersh, MD

Supporting Author(s): 

Sylvia I. Watkins-Castillo, PhD

Using the SPARC definitions, rheumatologic conditions were diagnosed in 621,200 children and adolescent health care visits in 2012, of which 491,300 had a primary diagnosis of a rheumatologic condition. Only 2% of children and adolescents with any rheumatologic diagnoses were hospitalized (13,500), while less than 1% (4,200) with a primary diagnosis of a rheumatologic condition had a hospital discharge. The majority of children and adolescents with a rheumatologic condition diagnosis were seen in physicians’ offices. (Reference Table 7.1.1 PDF CSV; and Table 7.1.2 PDF CSV)

Females were hospitalized with a rheumatologic condition at nearly three times the rate of males, both for any diagnoses and as a primary diagnosis. As children age, there is a higher incidence of rheumatologic conditions diagnosis.

Any diagnoses of a rheumatologic condition accounted for just under 3% of hospitalizations for any musculoskeletal condition diagnosis, and 0.2% of all hospitalizations for any health care condition. Hospitalizations with a primary diagnosis of a rheumatologic condition were 0.8% of all musculoskeletal diagnoses and 0.1% of hospitalizations for any health condition diagnosis. (Reference Table 7.9 PDF CSV)

Hospital Discharges for Children and Adolescents Age 20 and Under with Rheumatologic Diagnosis, by Sex and Age, United States 2012

 

Edition: 

  • 2014

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