Racial/Ethnic Disparities in the Incidences of Bronchiolitis Requiring Hospitalization

• Published in: Clinical infectious diseases 2021-02, Vol.72 (4), p.668-674
• Main Authors: Inagaki, Kengo, Blackshear, Chad, Burns, Paul A, Hobbs, Charlotte V
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Bronchiolitis - epidemiology; Ethnic Groups; Health Status Disparities; Hispanic Americans; Hospitalization; Humans; Incidence; Infant; New York; United States - epidemiology
• ISSN: 1058-4838; 1537-6591
• DOI: 10.1093/cid/ciaa113

Abstract Background Race/ethnicity is currently not considered a risk factor for bronchiolitis, except for indigenous populations in Western countries. A better understanding of the potential impact of race/ethnicity can inform programs, policies, and practices related to bronchiolitis. Methods We performed a population-based, longitudinal, observational study using the State Inpatient Database from New York State in the United States. Infants born between 2009 and 2013 at term without comorbidities were followed for the first 2 years of life, up to 2015. We calculated the cumulative incidences among different race/ethnicity groups, and evaluated the risks by developing logistic regression models. Results Of 877 465 healthy, term infants, 10 356 infants were hospitalized with bronchiolitis. The overall cumulative incidence was 11.8 per 1000 births. The cumulative incidences in non-Hispanic White, non-Hispanic Black, Hispanic, and Asian infants were 8.6, 15.4, 19.1, and 6.5 per 1000 births, respectively. In a multivariable analysis adjusting for socioeconomic status, the risks remained substantially high among non-Hispanic Black (odds ratio, 1.42; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.34–1.51) and Hispanic infants (odds ratio, 1.77; 95% CI, 1.67–1.87), whereas being of Asian race was protective (odds ratio, .62; 95% CI, .56–.69). Conclusions The risks of bronchiolitis hospitalization in the first 2 years of life were substantially different by race/ethnicity, with Hispanic and Black infants having the highest rates of hospitalization. Further research is needed to develop and implement culturally appropriate public health interventions to reduce racial and ethnic health disparities in bronchiolitis. Incidences of bronchiolitis hospitalization in the first 2 years of life are substantially different by race/ethnicity, with racial minorities being at the highest risk. Further research efforts are needed to develop and implement culturally appropriate public health preventive measures.