[Hospitalizations due to diabetic foot in Switzerland].
OBJECTIVE
Evaluate the hospital impact of diabetes, foot ulcers and amputations linked to diabetic foot in Switzerland.


METHODS
Data from the medical statistics of Swiss hospitals between 2003 and 2008.


RESULTS
Over 6 years, the annual hospital admission rate of diabetic patients increased by 38%, the number of hospitalised patients and of admissions by 44% and 51%, respectively. For ulcers, these figures were 112% and 194%, and for amputations 26% and 34%, respectively. Amongst patients hospitalised in 2005 with ulcer or for amputation, about 25% were hospitalised 2 years and 33% 1 year before or after. Length of stay decreased by 10%, but hospital mortality remained stable below 10%.


CONCLUSIONS
Hospital admissions with diabetic foot problems are an important public health issue, and are getting worse.
Institut d'economie et de management de la santé (IEMS), Université de Lausanne, 1015 Lausanne. caroline.pedgriftkrzywicki@alumnil.unil.ch
Caroline Pedgrift
CP
Krzywicki
Jean-Blaise
JB
Wasserfallen
D000368:Aged; D017719:Diabetic Foot / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D017052:Hospital Mortality / Q000639:trends; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data* / Q000639:trends; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013557:Switzerland / Q000453:epidemiology