title: Increase in hypoglycemic admissions: California hospital discharge data.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the percentage of diabetics admitted to the hospital due to hypoglycemia in 1990-1993 (period 1) to that in 1997-2000 (period 2).
  
  
  METHODS
  We analyzed data from the California Hospital Discharge Data Program. Eligibility included diabetic (ICD code 250) subjects aged > or =25 years old who were hospitalized due to hypoglycemia (ICD Codes 250.8) during the periods 1990-1993 and 1997-2000. Data were analyzed by demographics and health insurance status.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 2,905,091 hospitalized diabetics, 50,017 (1.7%) were due to hypoglycemia. The percentage of hospitalization due to hypoglycemic varied by sex, age, race/ethnicity, and insurance status (P = .0001). Male, Hispanic, age 25-64 years, with Medical/Medicare insurance had higher odds of being hospitalized due to hypoglycemia relative to other groups (P < .001). The percentage of diabetics hospitalized due to hypoglycemia increased from period 1 to period 2 (1.3% vs. 2.0%, P = .0001). Diabetics hospitalized in period 2 had higher adjusted odds of being hospitalized due to hypoglycemia relative to those admitted in period 1 (OR = 1.6, P < .0001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our data show an increase in the hospitalization due to hypoglycemia in diabetic patients. Enhanced patient education about self-monitoring of blood sugar and recognizing and treating the symptoms of hypoglycemia may help to minimize hypoglycemic hospitalizations.
authors.affiliation: Divisions of General Internal Medicine and Geriatrics, Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science, Los Angeles, CA, USA. measunci@cdrewu.edu
authors.forename: Merlyn M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Asuncion
authors.forename: Magda
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shaheen
authors.forename: Kalpana
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ganesan
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Velasques
authors.forename: Senait
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Teklehaimanot
authors.forename: Deyu
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pan
authors.forename: Keith
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Norris
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002140:California / Q000453:epidemiology; D019992:Databases as Topic; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000639:trends*; D006801:Humans; D007003:Hypoglycemia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology*; D008297:Male; D008499:Medical Records; D008875:Middle Aged; D010351:Patient Discharge