Rise in Unemployment Puts More Kids at Risk.

• Position: PEDIATRIC HOSPITALIZATION

Pediatric hospitalization rates increase when unemployment levels rise, suggests an analysis of data from 14 states spanning 12 years by Jeffrey D. Colvin, director of Research at Children's Mercy Hospital, Kansas City, Mo., and colleagues.

For every one percent increase in unemployment, researchers saw a five percent increase in hospitalizations for substance abuse, a four percent increase for diabetes, a two percent increase for poisoning and burns, and a two percent increase for children with medical complexity--those with a high need for prescriptions, medical equipment, or services. Pediatric hospitalization rates for all causes increased by two percent for every one percent increase in unemployment.

Researchers analyzed county-level unemployment data every three years...