More Appendicitis Rupture Cases Among Minority Children

The Appendicitis Foundation said yesterday that minority children have a significantly higher appendicitis rupture rate compared to white children.

The Foundation cited "Pediatric appendicitis rupture rate: a national indicator of disparities in healthcare access," a study by Kathleen A Jablonski 1 and Mark F Guagliardo of George Washington University, that concluded that African American, Hispanic and Asian children, had 24%-38% higher odds of appendicitis rupture than white children.

“Our own experience supports this finding,” said Peter Cambridge, a spokesman for the Appendicitis Foundation (www.AppendicitisFoundation.org). “There is a higher incidence of appendicitis rupture among minority children “

The study said that the higher appendicitis rate among minority children was "indicative of poor access to healthcare, which is amenable to social and healthcare policy changes."

In addition, the Appendicitis Foundation said ruptured appendicitis cases in children result in 97% higher hospital charges and 175% longer hospital stays than non-rupture cases on average.

The study concluded that the racial/ethnic disparities in pediatric appendicitis outcome are large and are preventable with timely diagnosis and surgery for all children. "As with most other health and healthcare disparities, efforts to reduce disparities in income, wealth and access to care will most likely improve the odds of favorable outcome for this condition as well," the study said.