Oral Presentation Australian Diabetes Society and the Australian Diabetes Educators Association Annual Scientific Meeting 2014

Background & Aim

In hospital wide point prevalence studies we have previously reported one third of hospital inpatients have diabetes. Diabetes inpatients experience a high frequency of diabetes adverse events in hospital and increased length of stay. The aim of this study was to compare the prevalence of diabetes in different hospital units and length of stay in diabetes versus non-diabetes inpatients according to hospital units and admission diagnoses.

Methods

Hospital admission coding data from 2002-2013 were analysed to compare inpatients with and without diabetes. Hospital length of stay data were analysed according to admission units and principal diagnosis. Data were available in 227 161 patients and of these 39 935 (18%) had diabetes.

Results

The prevalence of inpatients classified with diabetes increased throughout the period (from 17% in 2002 to 22% in 2013). Hospital units with the highest prevalence of diabetes inpatients included Nephrology, General Medicine and Vascular Surgery (42%, 36% and 34%, respectively in 2013).  Overall inpatients with diabetes had a median one day increased length of hospital stay compared to non-diabetes inpatients (p<0.0001).  Significantly greater length of stay for diabetes inpatients was evident in most hospital units (Table 1).  Inpatients with diabetes and a principal diagnosis of myocardial infarction, cardiac failure, stroke and pneumonia also had a one day greater length of stay (Table 1).

Conclusion

Overall the prevalence of diabetes inpatients is increasing. Length of stay in diabetes inpatients is consistently higher in most hospital units and for common medical diagnoses.  These observations can be used to support strategies designed to enhance the quality of care and efficiency of managing diabetes in the hospital.