Methods and Limitations
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Methodology

Among hospital discharges to adults (aged 18 years or older), we examined the distribution of first–listed diagnoses among discharges having diabetes as any listed diagnosis. We used data from the National Hospital Discharge Survey (NHDS), National Center for Health Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. NHDS collects data on hospital discharges from a sample of short–stay, nonfederal hospitals in the United States. Data collected include information on patients' age, race, sex, length of stay, and on seven diagnoses (one primary and six secondary diagnoses) and four surgical procedures. Methods used for conducting the survey have been described previously.1, 2

Among discharges to persons aged 18 years or older having diabetes (ICD–9–CM code 250) as any listed diagnosis, the first–listed diagnoses were grouped into disease systems following Classification of Diseases and Injuries of ICD–9–CM.

 

Limitations

Hospitalizations involving persons with diabetes are underestimated because long-term and federal hospitals are not included in the NHDS sample. Because NHDS samples hospital discharges, the proportion for each category reflects the proportion of discharges, not the proportion of persons.
 

References

  1. Dennison C, Pokras R. Design and operation of the National Hospital Discharge Survey: 1988 redesign. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics. Vital and Health Statistics, Series 1, No. 39, 2000.
  2. Graves EJ. National Hospital Discharge Survey: Annual Summary, 1990. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics. Vital and Health Statistics, Series 13, No. 112, 1992.