Trends in the annual prevalence of hospitalisation for remote indigenous communities in Queensland, 1997/98 to 2004/05.
OBJECTIVE
To describe trends in the annual prevalence of hospitalisation in remote Indigenous communities in Queensland, 1997/98 to 2004/05.


METHODS
Descriptive analysis of computerised discharge abstracts that were linked using probabilistic matching to obtain person-based data.


RESULTS
Over the eight years studied, the age-standardised annual prevalence of hospitalisation decreased by 4.5% per year (95% CI -4.8%- -4.1%). The decrease was largest at younger ages (e.g. 0-4 years: -6.0%; 70+ years: -1.9%). There were large decreases for infections (-6.1%; 95% CI -6.8%- -5.4%) and for injury (-7.3%; 95% CI -8.1%- -6.5%). However, there were increases for chronic diseases such as ischaemic heart disease (2.5%; 95% CI 0.2%-4.9%), diabetes (2.5%; 95% CI 0.5%--4.5%) and renal failure (6.8%, 95% CI 3.3%-10.4%).


CONCLUSIONS
Indigenous health appears to be improving in the remote communities in Queensland, especially for infections and injury, but it appears that little progress has been made for chronic disease.
Coory
Michael
M
School of Population Health, University of Queensland, Level 2 Public Health Building, Herston Road, Herston, Queensland. m.coory@uq.edu.au
Johnston
Trisha
T
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008507:Medically Underserved Area; D008875:Middle Aged; D009313:National Health Programs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010351:Patient Discharge / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015995:Prevalence; D011793:Queensland / Q000453:epidemiology; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*