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Descriptive analysis of diagnosis-related groups in patients from a Veterans Administration Medical Center
1Veterans Administration Medical Center, Oklahoma City, OK.
Abstract:
Discharge diagnoses from October 1, 1987 to September 30, 1988 were analyzed to quantitate infection. Four hundred forty-nine (4.8%) of 9,290 discharges (excluding 1-day stays) were infections. Pneumonia, caused by all etiological agents, was responsible for 2.4% of the principal diagnoses. These data help define the role of infection in hospitalized veterans and further supports earlier findings that respiratory tract infections are the most common of all infections in our veterans.
Insights
Infections were diagnosed in 4.8% of hospitalized veterans, with pneumonia being the most common principal diagnosis. Respiratory tract infections remain the most frequent infections observed in this veteran population.
Area of Science:
- Medical research
- Infectious disease epidemiology
Background:
- Hospital-acquired infections pose a significant challenge in healthcare settings.
- Understanding the prevalence of specific infections is crucial for resource allocation and treatment strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantify the incidence of infections among hospitalized veterans.
- To identify the most common types of infections, particularly pneumonia, in this demographic.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of discharge diagnoses.
- Data collected from October 1, 1987, to September 30, 1988.
- Exclusion of 1-day stays to focus on significant infections.
Main Results:
- A total of 9,290 discharges were analyzed, with 449 (4.8%) identified as infections.
- Pneumonia accounted for 2.4% of all principal diagnoses.
- Respiratory tract infections were confirmed as the most prevalent infection type.
Conclusions:
- Infections represent a notable proportion of hospitalizations among veterans.
- Pneumonia is a leading infectious diagnosis in this population.
- Findings reinforce the high incidence of respiratory infections in hospitalized veterans.