Trends in rates of hospitalization with a diagnosis of substance abuse among reproductive-age women, 1998 to 2003.
OBJECTIVE
To describe trends in hospitalizations with a diagnosis of substance abuse among reproductive-age women from 1998-2003.


METHODS
Data were obtained from the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project Nationwide Inpatient Sample. Hospitalizations with a diagnosis of substance abuse were categorized into subgroups by age, primary expected payer, substance-specific diagnoses, concomitance, and hospital location. Trends in hospitalization rates per 100,000 women aged 15-44 were tested using a weighted least-squares method.


RESULTS
From 1998-2003, there was no change in the overall rate of hospitalization with a diagnosis of substance abuse among women aged 15-44. Alcohol abuse was the most common substance-specific diagnosis. The rate of hospitalization with a diagnosis of cocaine abuse decreased 22%; for a diagnosis of cannabis abuse, the rate increased 35%. The rate of hospitalization with a diagnosis of amphetamine abuse doubled from 1998-2003. Among women aged 15-24, the rate of hospitalization with a diagnosis of substance abuse increased 23%.


CONCLUSIONS
Although we did not observe a change in the overall rate of substance-abuse hospitalization among reproductive-age women, there were dramatic changes in the rate of substance-specific diagnoses. These data may be used to quantify emerging trends in substance abuse and promote the use of hospital-based interventions.
Cox
Shanna
S
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Division of Reproductive Health, Atlanta, GA 30341, USA. cio8@cdc.gov
Johnson
Chris H
CH
Meikle
Susan
S
Jamieson
Denise J
DJ
Posner
Samuel F
SF
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D019973:Alcohol-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D019970:Cocaine-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand / Q000639:trends*; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data* / Q000639:trends*; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends; D008297:Male; D002189:Marijuana Abuse / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010343:Patient Admission / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends; D011322:Primary Prevention / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D016387:Women's Health