Posted: 12/29/08
Diverticulitis is a condition characterized by inflammation in the digestive tract and infection of small pockets in the intestine. This condition can be painful and sometimes deadly. Each year, more than 200,000 people are hospitalized with this condition, and it becomes more common as people age. A recent study shows that people without adequate individual or supplemental medical insurance may face worse outcomes after being diagnosed with diverticulitis, which might be due to a delay in seeking treatment causing more complicated cases. According to David C. Chang, an assistant professor of surgery at Johns Hopkins University and senior author of a report in the December issue of the Archives of Surgery, "Uninsured patients are 164 percent more likely to die after [diverticulitis] surgery than insured patients."
The study found racial disparities in treatments, mostly due to differences in individual or supplemental medical insurance levels, with uninsured or underinsured patients more like to receive a colostomy. Those with excellent medical insurance, regardless of race, were more likely to be referred to helpful surgeons and high-quality hospitals.
Related Links
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_72817.html
