Diverging trends for lower respiratory infections in non-Aboriginal and Aboriginal children

Abstract

Aim: To investigate temporal trends in admission rates for acute lower respiratory infections (ALRI) in a total population birth cohort of non-Aboriginal and Aboriginal children. Methods: Retrospective analysis of linked population-based data using the Western Australian Data Linkage System. All singleton live births in Western Australia between 1990 and 2000 were included. Hospital admission rates per 1000 live births for ALRI before age 2 years and linear time trends for ALRI admission rates were investigated. Results: ALRI admission rates were 7.5 (95% confidence interval (CI) 7.2-7.7) times higher in Aboriginal than non-Aboriginal children (337 vs. 45 per 1000 live births); pneumonia rat..