Comorbid Conditions in Canadians Hospitalized Because of Diabetes

The number of hospital discharges involving type 1 or type 2 diabetes as the first-listed diagnosis has increased over the past few decades. Such cases are commonly associated with various comorbidities. We analyzed data collected from hospital separations in Canada to determine the number and proportion of comorbid conditions in Canadians hospitalized because of diabetes.

The most responsible diagnosis (MRDx) of diabetes (ICD-10-CA: E10 [type 1 diabetes] or E11 [type 2 diabetes]) was identified from acute care hospital separations (Discharge Abstract Database) from 2013 to 2014 in all Canadian jurisdictions except Quebec. Hospital separations were calculated by 5-year age groups and sex. The most common comorbid (secondary) diagnoses were identified for hospital separations with diabetes as the MRDx, and the average lengths of stay associated with diabetes were determined.

The total number of hospital separations in 2013-2014 in Canada (excluding Quebec) with diabetes as the MRDx in all ages was 30,422, and males represented more than half (58.7%) of the separations. The median age group when diabetes is the MRDx is 60 to 64. For all patients hospitalized with an MRDx of diabetes, there were 2.2% deaths. Hypertension was the most common comorbid diagnosis in patients with diabetes as the MRDx, followed by glomerular disorders, peripheral angiopathy and acute renal failure.

Hospitalizations resulting from diabetes are associated with vascular comorbidities, and hypertension is the most common. Prevention of shared predisposing factors should reduce the burden of hospitalizations associated with diabetes.