Beyond “Asian”: Specific East and Southeast Asian Races or Ethnicities Associated With Jaundice Readmission

OBJECTIVES: Clinical practice guidelines have recognized “Asian” and “East Asian” as risk factors for newborn jaundice and readmission. We sought to identify more detailed and specific, parent-identified races or ethnicities associated with jaundice readmission. METHODS: We conducted a case control study of 653 newborn infants born (2014–2016) at a West-Coast, urban hospital to examine specific parent-described races or ethnicities that are associated with newborn hospital readmissions for hyperbilirubinemia. Parent-reported race or ethnicity was abstracted from the California Newborn Screening Test. RESULTS: Our sample included 105 infants readmitted for jaundice (cases) and 548 infants as controls. In the full cohort, 66 infants (10.1%) were Coombs positive, 39 infants (6.0%) were born before 37 weeks’ gestational age, and 405 infants (62.0%) were born to first-time mothers. The parents described the 653 infants using 45 unique races and ethnicities. In a multivariable model that controlled for Coombs positivity, gestational age CONCLUSIONS: In this study, we help clarify and move beyond the term “Asian” as a risk factor for readmission due to hyperbilirubinemia.