Changes in Mean Charges and Length of Stay Among Diabetes Related Hospital Discharges: 2003-2007

Objective:- To identify variations in mean charges and mean length of hospital stay (LOS) among inpatient diabetes related hospital discharges between 2003-2007.

Methods:-We analyzed Ohio hospital discharge records with the International Classification of Diseases (ICD)-9 code for diabetes listed as either primary or secondary diagnosis. Variables analyzed included mean charges, mean LOS (days), year, and sex.

Results:- Between 2003-2007, there were a total of 106,728 discharges with a primary discharge diagnosis of diabetes, and 1,424,694 discharges with any diagnosis of diabetes.  Adjusted for medical cost inflation, mean charges increased among discharges with diabetes as the primary diagnosis 23% ($15,860 to $19,445; p<0.01) and among diabetes as any diagnosis 18% ($22,024 to $25,966; p<0.01). Overall, mean LOS decreased for primary (from 4.7 to 4.4 days) or any diagnosis (from 5.3 to 5.0 days). During this same time period, there were increases in mean charges with diabetes as a primary diagnosis in men (33%) and women (23%).  Among diabetes as any diagnosis, there were few differences in mean charges by sex. There were also few differences in mean LOS by sex, regardless of primary or any diagnosis.  

Conclusion:- Mean charges among diabetes related hospital discharges increased in Ohio between 2003-2007, despite decreases in LOS. Further study is needed to determine the reasons for these increases in mean charges.