Overall rates of diabetes-related preventable hospitalizations did not change substantially over a 10-year period, according to a recent analysis. However, they did increase significantly in 18-to-44-year-olds, and acute complications were the culprit. Participants were from the National Health Interview Survey and had diabetes. Investigators evaluated trends in diabetes-related preventable hospitalization rates between 2005 and 2014. Among the results:

• Nearly 5.4 million diabetes-related preventable hospitalizations were reported.
• Such hospitalizations increased by ~77,000 over the study period, to ~577,000.
• Age-adjusted hospitalization rates did not change substantially.
• Such rates due to diabetes short-term complications increased significantly, whereas rates due to uncontrolled diabetes decreased significantly.
• Among 18- to 44-year-olds, there was a significant increase in hospitalizations due to acute complications.
• Overall, average length of stay decreased from 5.7 to 5.3 days.
• Total hospitalization costs due to preventable causes increased from $5.32 to $6.28 billion.
• Average hospitalization costs/patient decreased from ~$12,000 to ~$11,400.