Diabetes Hospitalization Report 2004 - News Release

For Immediate Release

Contact: Joe Martin, Communications Director
717-232-6787 or

DIABETES HOSPITALIZATIONS CONTINUE TO RISE

Harrisburg, PA - November 30, 2005 - While the rate of increase has slowed over the past two years, the number of hospitalizations for diabetes grew by 8.6 percent between 2000 and 2004, according to a new report released today by the Pennsylvania Health Care Cost Containment Council (PHC4) in conjunction with National Diabetes Awareness Month. In 2004, diabetes was the principal diagnosis in 23,725 admissions, accounting for 132,000 hospital days and more than $673 million in hospital charges.

"Despite advances in education, detection and disease management efforts, diabetes continues to be an enormous public health concern across the Commonwealth," said Marc P. Volavka, Executive Director of PHC4. "In the past five years, there were more than 115,000 hospital admissions for diabetes, which resulted in a total of $2.6 billion in hospital charges."

Diabetes is a widespread, chronic disease caused by the inability of the body to produce or properly use insulin. It predisposes people to costly complications, including heart disease, hypertension and stroke. Additionally, it is the leading cause of new cases of blindness, end-stage renal failure, and non-traumatic lower extremity amputation.

Approximately eight percent of Pennsylvania adults, and seven percent nationally, have been diagnosed with diabetes.

PHC4's Diabetes Hospitalization Report includes information on hospital admissions for diabetes, as well as the complications of lower extremity amputation and end-stage renal disease. New to this year’s report is a snapshot of multiple hospitalizations for diabetes.

"In 2004, 15.4 percent of patients with diabetes were hospitalized two or more times," noted Volavka. "Multiple hospitalizations were more common among certain populations, including Medicaid and Medicare recipients."

PHC4 is an independent state agency charged with collecting, analyzing and reporting information that can be used to improve the quality and restrain the cost of health care in Pennsylvania. Copies of this free report are available on the Council's website at http://www.phc4.org or by calling PHC4 at 717-232-6787.