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Acute MI, stroke hospitalization rates declining in patients with diabetes
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PHILADELPHIA — New data from the National Hospital Discharge Survey reveal declining trends in rates of hospitalization for acute myocardial infarction and stroke among patients aged 45 years and older with diagnosed diabetes.
From 1988 to 1996, age-adjusted hospitalization rates for acute MI and stroke remained relatively unchanged and then declined significantly from 1996 to 2009, Nilka R. Burrows, MPH, epidemiologist at the CDC, said during a presentation at the American Diabetes Association’s 72nd Scientific Sessions.
From 1988 to 2009, the age-adjusted hospitalization rate for acute MI per 1,000 patients with diabetes declined from 24.7 to 7.7 (average annual percentage change: –5.3% per year). During the same period, the age-adjusted hospitalization rate for stroke decreased from 18.9 to 9.2 per 1,000 patients with diabetes (average annual percentage change: –3.9% per year).
The researchers also found significant declines in age-specific rates and age-adjusted rates by sex and race. Both men and women had steeper declines in the later part of the study period, with a decline beginning earlier for men than for women. For both acute MI and stroke hospitalization, the decline among men began in 1995 and the decline among women began in 2001, Burrows said. A similar trend was observed among black and white patients, with white patients experiencing a steeper decline in hospitalizations earlier than black patients.
Compared with patients without diabetes, rates of decline were greater for patients with diabetes from 1988 to 2009 (acute MI: –6.1% vs. –2.3%; stroke: –4% vs. –0.6%).
“These findings are consistent with recent reports showing declines in CVD death rates in the diabetic population,” Burrows said. However, “despite declining trends, rates for acute MI and stroke are still greater among the diabetic population.”
The researchers said the declines observed in this study may be due to a reduction in the prevalence of risk factors and new or more aggressive treatment of CV risk factors.
“We need to continue our efforts to sustain and improve these trends,” Burrows said.
The researchers used data from the National Hospital Discharge Survey to estimate the number of discharges that had acute MI or stroke as the first-listed diagnosis among patients with diabetes as a secondary diagnosis. Hospitalizations for adults aged 45 years and older by sex and race were calculated using estimates of the population with diagnosed diabetes and age-adjusted to the 2000 US population, according to the abstract. – by Katie Kalvaitis
For more information:
- Burrows NR. 297-OR. Presented at: the American Diabetes Association 72nd Scientific Sessions; June 8-12, 2012; Philadelphia.
Disclosures:
- The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.