Diabetes mellitus in the First Nations population of British Columbia, Canada. Part 2. Hospital morbidity.
OBJECTIVE
To describe hospitalization rates from diabetes mellitus or its complications among residents of the province of British Columbia, Canada during the 5-year period 1993 to 1997, comparing people with Indian Status to rest of the population.


METHODS
A data base of all acute-care hospital discharges with diabetes mellitus anywhere among the discharge diagnoses was created. Case definitions of diabetes-related hospitalization were based on logical combinations of ICD-9 coded discharge diagnoses. Indirect standardization was used to adjust for age differences between the two populations.


RESULTS
Among persons aged 35 years or older, Status Indian males and pregnant females were twice as likely to be hospitalized for diabetes-related illness than other males or pregnant females. Status Indian non-pregnant females were three times as likely to be hospitalized as their non-Status Indian counterparts. Under age 35 years there was no difference in risk. Older First Nations women have a higher risk of diabetes during pregnancy but this analysis cannot distinguish gestational diabetes from pre-existing Type 2 diabetes.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001955:British Columbia / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D048909:Diabetes Complications; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007198:Indians, North American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011247:Pregnancy; D011254:Pregnancy in Diabetics / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy