Disparities in asthma hospitalization in Massachusetts

Objectives. We examined racial disparities in asthma morbidity in Massachusetts. Methods. We used Massachusetts case-mix data from 1994 to 2002 to screen and track individual asthma morbidity and hospitalizations, which resulted in a sample of 10 145 patients who were first hospitalized for asthma between 1997 and 2000. We followed these patients for 2 years after their first hospitalization. Because asthma is widely considered a preventable cause of hospitalization, we interpreted a readmission for asthma as an indication of failed asthma management. Results. We found substantial racial/ethnic disparities in readmission rates that persisted after control for comorbidities, payer type, and income. We estimated that the costs of repeat hospitalizations for asthma are in excess of one quarter of all asthma hospitalization costs. Conclusion. Racial/ethnic disparities in asthma readmission rates show that Massachusetts is not on the frontier of asthma treatment.