J J Gagliardino1, A Martella, G S Etchegoyen, J E Caporale, M L Guidi, E M Olivera, C González. 1. CENEXA-Center of Experimental and Applied Endocrinology (National University of La Plata-National Research Council, PAHO/WHO Collaborating Center), School of Medical Sciences, Calles 60 y 120, 1900 La Plata, Argentina. cenexaar@yahoo.com.ar
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To examine the prevalence, characteristics, and costs of hospitalization and re-hospitalization of diabetic and non-diabetic patients in La Plata, Argentina, and to compare the data with those of developed countries. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: We studied all in-hospital registries of diabetic patients enrolled in a health maintenance organization of the Province of Buenos Aires (IOMA, November 1996). For each diabetic patient (127 persons), the characteristics of two other hospitalized non-diabetic patients matched by age and gender were simultaneously recorded. RESULTS: Of the 2200 recorded hospitalizations, 5.8% were for diabetic patients, accounting for 10.5% of the hospitalization cost. Cardiovascular diseases were the major cause of hospitalization in both groups. The per capita hospitalization cost of diabetic patients was significantly higher: 1628.5+/-1754.0 US dollars versus 833+/-842 US dollars; P=0.00002. Percent re-hospitalizations were five and a half times higher in diabetic patients (P=0.0001), and significantly associated with history of severe episodes of acute (odds ratio: 3.61; 95% CI: 1.11-11.70; P=0.03) and chronic (odds ratio: 4.26; 95% CI: 1.60-11.29; P=0.004) complications. CONCLUSIONS: The combination of higher and longer hospitalization rates and frequent re-hospitalizations resulted in increased costs for our diabetic population. Implementation of care programs based on education (for physicians and patients) could effectively decrease current and future costs of the disease.
OBJECTIVE: To examine the prevalence, characteristics, and costs of hospitalization and re-hospitalization of diabetic and non-diabeticpatients in La Plata, Argentina, and to compare the data with those of developed countries. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: We studied all in-hospital registries of diabeticpatients enrolled in a health maintenance organization of the Province of Buenos Aires (IOMA, November 1996). For each diabeticpatient (127 persons), the characteristics of two other hospitalized non-diabeticpatients matched by age and gender were simultaneously recorded. RESULTS: Of the 2200 recorded hospitalizations, 5.8% were for diabeticpatients, accounting for 10.5% of the hospitalization cost. Cardiovascular diseases were the major cause of hospitalization in both groups. The per capita hospitalization cost of diabeticpatients was significantly higher: 1628.5+/-1754.0 US dollars versus 833+/-842 US dollars; P=0.00002. Percent re-hospitalizations were five and a half times higher in diabeticpatients (P=0.0001), and significantly associated with history of severe episodes of acute (odds ratio: 3.61; 95% CI: 1.11-11.70; P=0.03) and chronic (odds ratio: 4.26; 95% CI: 1.60-11.29; P=0.004) complications. CONCLUSIONS: The combination of higher and longer hospitalization rates and frequent re-hospitalizations resulted in increased costs for our diabetic population. Implementation of care programs based on education (for physicians and patients) could effectively decrease current and future costs of the disease.