Review for 10.1186/s12876-016-0544-y (2016)

Reviewer ’s report  
 
Title: The Impact of Race and Ethnicity on Mortality and Healthcare Utilization in Alcoholic  
Hepatitis: A Cross -Sectional Study  
 
Version: 0 Date: 28 Apr 2016  
 
Reviewer: Chien -Ning Hsu  
 
Reviewer's report:  
 
This study aimed to answer whether t here are racial/ethnic differences in resource utilization and 
inpatient mortality among patients hospitalized with alcoholic hepatitis. Following are my 
suggestions and comments.  
 
 
 
 
1. Methods  
 
Please provide all ICD9 codes used for the disease conditions ( e.g., ascites, compensated and 
decompensated cirrhosis) in the study.  
 
 
   
2. Results  
 
The paper claims to compare racial/ethnic differences in utilization of health resources. 
However, there are no details about the other group (4.9% study cohort).  
 
For ins tance, the in -hospital mortality (Table 2) and LOS are high in other group.  What other 
race/ethnic patients are included? Any previous studies have also found that ethnic minority play 
a significant role to the healthcare system? I would expect that a mor e complete capturing of 
racial differences is likely to be more useful to examine its impacts.   
 
 
 
3.  Discussion  
 
Line 38 on the page 13, please clarify which study that the authors indicated in the sentence:  
"Although this study did not examine inpatient  mortality, it…"  
 
 
4. References  
 
Please revise reference style followed by the journal policy.  
Are the methods appropriate and well described?  
If not, please specify what is required in your comments to the authors.  
 
Yes 
 
Does the work i nclude the necessary controls?  
If not, please specify which controls are required in your comments to the authors.  
 
Yes 
 
Are the conclusions drawn adequately supported by the data shown?  
If not, please explain in your comments to the authors.  
 
Yes 
 
Are you able to assess any statistics in the manuscript or would you recommend an  
additional statistical review?  
If an additional statistical review is recommended, please specify what aspects require further  
assessment in your comments to the editors.  
 
I am able to assess the statistics  
 
Quality of written English  
Please indicate the quality of language in the manuscript:  
 
Acceptable  
 
Declaration of competing interests  
Please complete a declaration of competing inter ests, considering the following questions:  
 
1. Have you in the past five years received reimbursements, fees, funding, or salary from an  
organisation that may in any way gain or lose financially from the publication of this  
manuscript, either now or in the future?  
 
2. Do you hold any stocks or shares in an organisation that may in any way gain or lose  
financially from the publication of this manuscript, either now or in the future?  
 
3. Do you hold or are you currently applying for any patents relating to the content of the  
manuscript?  
 
4. Have you received reimbursements, fees, funding, or salary from an organization that 
holds  or has applied for patents relating to the content of the manuscript?  
 
5. Do you have any other financial competing interests?  
 
6. Do you have any non -financial competing interests in relation to this paper?  
If you can answer no to all of the above, write 'I declare that I have no competing interests' 
below.  If you r reply is yes to any, please give details below.  
 
I declare that I have no competing interests.  
  
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on my report to the authors and, if the manuscript is accepte d for publication, my named report  
including any attachments I upload will be posted on the website along with the authors'  
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which I do not wish to be included in my named report can be included as confidential comments  
to the editors, which will not be published.  
 
I agree to the open peer review policy of the journal