Avoidable hospitalisations: potential for primary and public health initiatives in Canterbury, New Zealand.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the extent of potentially "avoidable hospitalisations" in the Canterbury District Health Board area; specifically, to identify the leading causes, recent trends, and estimated costs of avoidable hospitalisations.


METHODS
All hospitalisations in Christchurch Hospital from 2000 to 2004 were analysed and potentially "avoidable admissions" were categorised using ICD10 clinical codes. Costs of these admissions were estimated for the financial year ending 30 June 2003 using diagnostic-related groups (DRGs).


RESULTS
The leading causes of potentially "avoidable hospitalisations" in Christchurch Hospital were cardiovascular disease, stroke, respiratory, gastrointestinal, and urinary disorders. The total estimated costs of avoidable hospitalisations in 2003 were NZ 96.6 million dollars, accounting for an estimated 94,462 bed days. The estimated costs of cardiovascular admissions (excluding stroke) were 50.6 million dollars, with stroke accounting for an additional 6.2 million dollars.


CONCLUSIONS
Potentially "avoidable admissions" to Christchurch Hospital comprised 31% of all hospital admissions. There is considerable opportunity to invest in public and primary health initiatives aimed at early detection and intervention, with the major opportunities being identified as cardiovascular disease, stroke, respiratory, gastrointestinal, and urinary disorders.
Sheerin
Ian
I
Department of Public Health and General Practice, Christchurch School of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Otago, Christchurch. ian.sheerin@chmeds.ac.nz
Allen
Gary
G
Henare
Mark
M
Craig
Kirsty
K
D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000191:economics / Q000628:therapy; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000191:economics / Q000628:therapy; D052776:Female Urogenital Diseases / Q000191:economics / Q000628:therapy; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000191:economics / Q000628:therapy; D017048:Health Care Costs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007239:Infections / Q000191:economics / Q000628:therapy; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000191:economics / Q000628:therapy; D052801:Male Urogenital Diseases; D009520:New Zealand; D012140:Respiratory Tract Diseases / Q000191:economics / Q000628:therapy; D019564:Unnecessary Procedures / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*