OBJECTIVE: To describe trends in hospitalizations with a diagnosis of substance abuse among reproductive-age women from 1998-2003. METHODS: Data were obtained from the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project Nationwide Inpatient Sample. Hospitalizations with a diagnosis of substance abuse were categorized into subgroups by age, primary expected payer, substance-specific diagnoses, concomitance, and hospital location. Trends in hospitalization rates per 100,000 women aged 15-44 were tested using a weighted least-squares method. RESULTS: From 1998-2003, there was no change in the overall rate of hospitalization with a diagnosis of substance abuse among women aged 15-44. Alcohol abuse was the most common substance-specific diagnosis. The rate of hospitalization with a diagnosis of cocaine abuse decreased 22%; for a diagnosis of cannabis abuse, the rate increased 35%. The rate of hospitalization with a diagnosis of amphetamine abuse doubled from 1998-2003. Among women aged 15-24, the rate of hospitalization with a diagnosis of substance abuse increased 23%. CONCLUSION: Although we did not observe a change in the overall rate of substance-abuse hospitalization among reproductive-age women, there were dramatic changes in the rate of substance-specific diagnoses. These data may be used to quantify emerging trends in substance abuse and promote the use of hospital-based interventions.
OBJECTIVE: To describe trends in hospitalizations with a diagnosis of substance abuse among reproductive-age women from 1998-2003. METHODS: Data were obtained from the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project Nationwide Inpatient Sample. Hospitalizations with a diagnosis of substance abuse were categorized into subgroups by age, primary expected payer, substance-specific diagnoses, concomitance, and hospital location. Trends in hospitalization rates per 100,000 women aged 15-44 were tested using a weighted least-squares method. RESULTS: From 1998-2003, there was no change in the overall rate of hospitalization with a diagnosis of substance abuse among women aged 15-44. Alcohol abuse was the most common substance-specific diagnosis. The rate of hospitalization with a diagnosis of cocaine abuse decreased 22%; for a diagnosis of cannabis abuse, the rate increased 35%. The rate of hospitalization with a diagnosis of amphetamine abuse doubled from 1998-2003. Among women aged 15-24, the rate of hospitalization with a diagnosis of substance abuse increased 23%. CONCLUSION: Although we did not observe a change in the overall rate of substance-abuse hospitalization among reproductive-age women, there were dramatic changes in the rate of substance-specific diagnoses. These data may be used to quantify emerging trends in substance abuse and promote the use of hospital-based interventions.
Authors: Lisa J W Liu; James A G Crispo; Paxton Bach; Dominique R Ansell; Dylan Thibault; Allison W Willis; Jacquelyn J Cragg Journal: BMJ Open Date: 2022-09-20 Impact factor: 3.006