Mississippi Disparities in Diabetes-Associated Hospitalizations

Purpose:  Diabetes as a primary or secondary diagnosis accounted for 22% of all Mississippi hospitalizations. Identifying disparities in diabetes-related hospitalizations can shed light on disproportionately affected communities, informing diabetes prevention and control program strategies, activities, and policies. This study examined the scope and severity of diabetes-associated hospitalizations in the state of Mississippi.

Methods: Descriptive analysis was used to assess diabetes-associated hospitalizations as either primary or secondary diagnosis by residence, gender, and race. This analysis utilized 2011 hospital discharge data and included only hospitalizations by Mississippi residents (excluded from data were non-residents hospitalized in Mississippi). Descriptive analysis was conducted using SAS 9.3.

Results: Overall, there were 84,649 primary and secondary diagnosed diabetes-associated hospitalizations, 28.0 diabetes-associated hospitalizations per 1,000 persons. By residence, 61% were from rural counties (v. 39% from metro counties). Rural residents also had the higher diabetes-associated hospitalization rate. Per 1,000 persons, 30.0 rural residents (v. 26.0 metro residents) were hospitalized due to diabetes-associated diagnosis. By gender, 57% of diabetes-associated hospitalizations were attributed to females (v. 43% to males). Females also had the higher diabetes-associated hospitalization rate. Per 1,000 persons, 32.0 females (v. 25.0 males) were hospitalized due to diabetes-associated diagnosis.  By race, 54% were attributed to whites (v. 42% to blacks). While the proportion of white patients was higher, the diabetes-associated hospitalization rate was higher among blacks. Per 1,000 persons, 32.0 blacks (v. 26.0 whites) were hospitalized due to diabetes-associated diagnosis.

Conclusons: Rural-county residents, females, and whites represent a higher proportion of diabetes-associated hospitalizations. However, the rate of diabetes-associated hospitalizations is higher among blacks, females, and rural-county residents. While further research is needed to determine the reasons for this representation, this study and data source can help programs better target resource allocation and education outreach. This study also reflects how hospital discharge data can be utilized as a data source for health disparity analysis.