Methods and Limitations

Methodology

Among hospital discharges to children and young people (aged 17 years or younger), we examined the distribution of first-listed diagnoses among discharges having diabetes as any listed diagnosis. We used data from the Kids’ Inpatient Database (KID), sponsored by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ). The 2006 KID contains information on hospital inpatient stays for children 20 years of age and younger from the following 38 states’ data organizations participating in the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project: Arizona Department of Health Services; Arkansas Department of Health & Human Services, California Office of Statewide Health Planning & Development; Colorado Health & Hospital Association; Connecticut—CHIME, Inc.; Florida Agency for Health Care Administration; Georgia: An Association of Hospitals & Health Systems; Hawaii Health Information Corporation; Iowa Hospital Association; Illinois Department of Public Health; Indiana Hospital & Health Association; Kansas Hospital Association; Kentucky Department for Public Health; Massachusetts Division of Health Care Finance and Policy; Maryland Health Services Cost Review Commission; Michigan Health & Hospital Association; Minnesota Hospital Association; Missouri Hospital Industry Data Institute; Nebraska Hospital Association; New Hampshire Department of Health & Human Services; New Jersey Department of Health & Senior Services; New York State Department of Health; Nevada Department of Human Resources; North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services; Ohio Hospital Association; Oklahoma State Department of Health, Oregon Association of Hospitals & Health Systems; Rhode Island Department of Health; South Carolina State Budget & Control Board; South Dakota Association of Healthcare Organizations; Tennessee Hospital Association; Texas Health Care Information Council; Utah Department of Health; Vermont Association of Hospitals and Health Systems; Virginia Health Information; Washington State Department of Health; West Virginia Health Care Authority; Wisconsin Department of Health & Family Services. The 2006 KID includes approximately 3 million pediatric discharges from more than 3,739 U.S. community, non-rehabilitation hospitals. Discharge weights are provided to calculate national estimates. A more detailed description of the KID is available.¹ 

Among discharges to children and young people having diabetes (ICD–9–CM code 250) as any listed diagnosis, the first-listed diagnosis was grouped by disease system 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 KID sample. Because KID samples hospital discharges, the proportion for each category reflects the proportion of discharges, not the proportion of persons.

References

1. HCUP Kids' Inpatient Database (KID). Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Rockville, M.D; 2003. (Accessed Dec. 2007, at http://www.hcup-us.ahrq.gov/kidoverview.jsp)