Tracking stroke hospitalization clusters over time and associations with county-level socioeconomic and healthcare characteristics.

ABSTRACT:

Background and purpose

This study evaluated clustering of stroke hospitalization rates, patterns of the clustering over time, and associations with community-level characteristics.

Methods

We used Medicare hospital claims data from 1995-1996 to 2005-2006 with a principal discharge diagnosis of stroke to calculate county-level stroke hospitalization rates. We identified statistically significant clusters of high- and low-rate counties by using local indicators of spatial association, tracked cluster status over time, and assessed associations between cluster status and county-level socioeconomic and healthcare profiles.

Results

Clearly defined clusters of counties with high- and low-stroke hospitalization rates were identified in each time. Approximately 75% of countie

SUBMITTER: Schieb LJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4533978 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature