Hospital discharges for diabetic foot disease in New Zealand: 1980-1993

The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of hospital discharges for diabetic foot disease from 1980 to 1993 in New Zealand and identify regional variations. Data from the International Classification of Disease (ICD) discharge codes for diabetes and its complications from 1980 to 1993 were reviewed for diabetic foot disease. The total number of discharges/100,000 total population has increased from 13.56 in 1980 to 25.79 in 1993. The age and sex-standardised total bed/days per 1000 total population increased from 5.02 in 1980 to 5.85 in 1993. The total inpatient cost for the management of diabetic foot disease in New Zealand (population 3.3 million) for 1993 is estimated to be in the region of NZ$10-11 million (USD$7-7.7 million), indicating the need to put strategies in place to manage this problem. Strategies that reduce the individual and inpatient burden of this advanced stage complication of diabetes mellitus can be implemented easily for a relatively modest cost.