Risk Factors for Hospitalization in People With Diabetes

OBJECTIVE: To determine factors predicting hospitalization in people with diabetes. METHODS: Two population-based groups with diabetes were examined at baseline (1980-1982), 4 years (1984-1986), and 10 years (1990-1992). The younger-onset group (n = 777) consisted of all persons diagnosed as having diabetes before age 30 years who were taking insulin, and the older-onset group (n = 542) consisted of a sample of persons diagnosed after age 30 years. At the 10-year examination, participants were asked if they had been hospitalized in the previous year. Factors from the 4-year examination were examined for their ability to predict hospitalization at the 10-year examination. RESULTS: In the younger-onset group, 25.5% reported being hospitalized. In logistic models, glycosylated hemoglobin level (odds ratio [OR], 1.27; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.16-1.39 for a 1% increment) and hypertension (OR, 1.60; 95% CI, 1.08-2.38) predicted hospitalization. Factors that were not significant included age, sex, systolic and diastolic blood pressures, body mass, smoking status, and alcohol consumption. In the older-onset group, 30.8% reported being hospitalized. In logistic models, only glycosylated hemoglobin level (OR, 1.16; 95% CI, 1.06-1.29 for a 1% increment) predicted hospitalization. CONCLUSIONS: Glycemic control is subject to intervention. Better control may decrease hospitalization among people with diabetes. Thus, there is considerable potential for reducing health care costs.