Assessing differences among persistent, episodic, and non- high-need high-cost hospitalized children in China after categorization by an unsupervised learning algorithm

This study provides valuable insights into the classification, characteristics, and influencing factors of persistent, episodic, and non-HNHC hospitalized children in China. Persistent HNHC patients warrant targeted interventions to improve health outcomes and reduce healthcare costs. Enhanced medical coverage for key diseases, high-quality healthcare services tailored to their needs, and early interventions are crucial.