Increased hospital expenditures in diabetic patients hospitalized for cardiovascular diseases.
OBJECTIVE
To measure the impact of diabetes on hospital resource use and expenditures in patients hospitalized for cardiovascular diseases (CVD).


METHODS
We conducted an observational study of 4865 hospitalizations for CVD over 2 years (January 1998 to December 1999). Information with respect of the presence of diabetes mellitus, length of stay, readmissions, mortality, and costs were obtained through retrospective chart review.


RESULTS
Diabetic patients accounted for 35.1% of hospital admissions (1706 admissions), 40.8% of hospital stays (23,309 days), and 39% of direct medical cost (5,735,884 euros). On average, diabetic patients had longer hospital stay (13.6+/-13.2 vs. 10.7+/-11.2 days; P<.001) and direct in-patient cost (3438+/-4308 vs. 2513+/-3384 euros; P<.001) and experienced more readmissions (relative risk: 1.67; 95% CI: 1.45-1.91) compared with nondiabetic patients. However, despite the hospital mortality rate being higher in nondiabetic patients (6.3% vs. 5.8%), these results were not statistically significant (relative risk: 1.09; 95% CI: 0.86-1.40).


CONCLUSIONS
Diabetic patients hospitalized for CVD have longer hospital stay, greater risk of short-term readmission, and are more costly than nondiabetic patients. However, in-hospital mortality risk in patients hospitalized by CVD is no greater in diabetic than in nondiabetics.
Endocrinology Service of the Puerta del Mar University Hospital, Cádiz, Spain. florencarral@hotmail.com
Florentino
F
Carral
Manuel
M
Aguilar
Gabriel
G
Olveira
Alipio
A
Mangas
Inmaculada
I
Doménech
Isabel
I
Torres
D000368:Aged; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000191:economics* / Q000401:mortality; D015331:Cohort Studies; D015897:Comorbidity; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000191:economics* / Q000401:mortality; D003925:Diabetic Angiopathies / Q000191:economics* / Q000401:mortality; D005260:Female; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006785:Hospitals, University / Q000191:economics; D006801:Humans; D007297:Inpatients / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019370:Observation; D010359:Patient Readmission / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology