Hospitalization and re-hospitalization of people with and without diabetes in La Plata, Argentina: comparison of their clinical characteristics and costs.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the prevalence, characteristics, and costs of hospitalization and re-hospitalization of diabetic and non-diabetic patients in La Plata, Argentina, and to compare the data with those of developed countries.


METHODS
We studied all in-hospital registries of diabetic patients enrolled in a health maintenance organization of the Province of Buenos Aires (IOMA, November 1996). For each diabetic patient (127 persons), the characteristics of two other hospitalized non-diabetic patients matched by age and gender were simultaneously recorded.


RESULTS
Of the 2200 recorded hospitalizations, 5.8% were for diabetic patients, accounting for 10.5% of the hospitalization cost. Cardiovascular diseases were the major cause of hospitalization in both groups. The per capita hospitalization cost of diabetic patients was significantly higher: 1628.5+/-1754.0 US dollars versus 833+/-842 US dollars; P=0.00002. Percent re-hospitalizations were five and a half times higher in diabetic patients (P=0.0001), and significantly associated with history of severe episodes of acute (odds ratio: 3.61; 95% CI: 1.11-11.70; P=0.03) and chronic (odds ratio: 4.26; 95% CI: 1.60-11.29; P=0.004) complications.


CONCLUSIONS
The combination of higher and longer hospitalization rates and frequent re-hospitalizations resulted in increased costs for our diabetic population. Implementation of care programs based on education (for physicians and patients) could effectively decrease current and future costs of the disease.
Gagliardino
J J
JJ
CENEXA-Center of Experimental and Applied Endocrinology (National University of La Plata-National Research Council, PAHO/WHO Collaborating Center), School of Medical Sciences, Calles 60 y 120, 1900 La Plata, Argentina. cenexaar@yahoo.com.ar
Martella
A
A
Etchegoyen
G S
GS
Caporale
J E
JE
Guidi
M L
ML
Olivera
E M
EM
González
C
C
D000368:Aged; D001118:Argentina; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000191:economics / Q000628:therapy; D019049:Developed Countries; D048909:Diabetes Complications / Q000191:economics* / Q000628:therapy; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000191:economics* / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000191:economics*; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000191:economics; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged