[BACKGROUND] Few researches have been reported hospital-based care utilization of children with medical complexity (CMC) in Japan. This study examined frequency and differences of hospital-based care utilization among moderate and severe CMC in Japan.
[METHODS] This study utilized medical records of three pediatric tertiary hospitals in one prefecture, 2014. We examined the numbers of outpatient visits and admissions to the hospital for CMC during 5 years after medical care at home was introduced.
[RESULTS] Of 92 children, severity in medical care was defined as moderate CMC (n=55) and severe CMC (n=37). The number of CMC who introduced medical care at home had increased year by year, especially children under 2 years old; however, CMC in older ages (i.e., 7-17 years old) had also increased in 2010-2014. The median numbers of total outpatient visits were 20 times (Interquartile (IQR): 13-29) for moderate CMC and 20 times (IQR: 17-26) for severe CMC in the first year. Sever CMC significantly experienced longer length of admissions during five year compared to moderate CMC. The numbers of total visits and admissions during subsequent four years (from the second to fifth year) were sl