Socioeconomic disadvantage and oral-health-related hospital admissions: a 10-year analysis.

Estie Kruger,Marc Tennant

doi:10.1038/bdjopen.2016.4

Estie Kruger, Marc Tennant

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1038/bdjopen.2016.4

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Journal: BDJ open	Publication Date: Jul 29, 2016
Citations: 8	License type: CC BY 4.0

Affiliation: University of Western Australia

Abstract

Objective:The aim of this Western Australian population study was to assess the relationship of socioeconomic disadvantage and: 1) trends in hospitalisations for oral-health-related conditions over 10 years; 2) insurance status, costs and length of stay in hospital; and 3) specific conditions (principal diagnosis) patients were admitted for.Methods:Hospitalisation data (of oral-health-related conditions) were obtained for every episode of discharge from all hospitals in Western Australia for the financial years 1999–2000 to 2008–2009. Area based measures (using the Index of Relative Socioeconomic Disadvantage) was used to determine relationships between socioeconomic status and other variables.Results:The most disadvantaged in the population are being hospitalised at significantly higher rates than other groups, stay in hospital for longer, and at higher costs. This trend remained over a period of 10 years. Those least disadvantaged have the second highest rates of hospitalisation, but the likelihood of being admitted for different procedures differ between these two extremes.Conclusions:The importance of socioeconomic determinants of health are evident when analysing these hospitalisations. Recognition that lifestyle choices are severely restricted among the most marginalised and disadvantaged groups in the population can no longer be ignored in attempts to reduce health inequalities.

Highlights

The social gradient in health means that health inequities affect all, and the poorest of the poor have the worst health
2% were above the age of 80 years
Almost half (47%) of all those admitted were from areas classified as Index of Relative Socioeconomic Disadvantage (IRSD) quintile 5, and 6.5% were from the most disadvantaged areas (IRSD quintile 1)

Summary

Introduction

The social gradient in health means that health inequities affect all, and the poorest of the poor have the worst health. This is a global phenomenon, and is seen in low, middle and high income countries.[1] It is social and economic conditions, and their effects on people’s lives, that determine their risk of illness and the actions taken to prevent them becoming ill or treat illness when it occurs.[1] The mechanisms by which socioeconomic status (SES) influence health status are complex and varied, and this association is confounded by many factors. This relationship exists across a very broad range of health indicators, including dental health.[3]

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