25. Hospital statistics - diagnoses and procedures

There are many reasons why older people are admitted to hospitals; the data presented here examine the principal diagnosis and the main procedure performed on the patient whilst in hospital care. Principal diagnosis is defined here as 'the diagnosis established after study to be chiefly responsible for occasioning the patient's episode of care in hospital' (AIHW 1997). The primary diagnosis is coded from patient's medical records according to the International Classification of Diseases 9th revision Clinical Modification
(ICD-9-CM).

The 20 most commonly reported principal diagnoses for people aged 65 and over and the general population highlight the reasons that older people are admitted to hospitals. The most common diagnosis for older Australians in 1995 - 96 was dialysis, reported for 8.2% of cases, followed by cataract (5.1%). Diagnoses associated with heart disease were also commonly reported (9.4%). Of the 20 diagnoses, all but general symptoms and gastritis and duodenitis were more commonly reported in the older age groups than overall. For example, cataract was the diagnosis for 5.1% of older patients but only 1.8% of patients overall. Similarly, heart failure accounted for 2.3% of older patient separations compared with 0.8% of the total and osteoarthritis was reported for 1.6% and 0.9%, respectively. Other diagnoses such as diverticula of the intestine (1.3%), hyperplasia of the prostate (1.1%) and fractured neck of femur (1%) were also typically associated with older people in 1995 - 96.

During hospitalisation, the most frequently reported procedures for older Australians were other operations on vessels (including haemodialyisis) (8.7%), followed by incision, excision and anastomosis of the intestine (which incorporates endoscopies) (7.9%) and other non-operative procedures (including chemotherapy) (6.7%). Comparing the 20 most commonly reported procedures for older patients and those reported for all patients shows that most of the procedures were more frequently reported for older patients than overall. For example, operations on lens were reported for 5.2% of older patients but only 1.8% of all patients and operations on the urinary bladder were reported for 2.5% and 1.4%, respectively. Repair and plastic operations on joint structures (2.2%), operations on the prostate (1.4%) and operations on heart vessels (0.9%) were also more common for older patients.

Patients aged 65 and over; separations for the 20 most frequently occurring principal diagnoses, Australia 1995 - 96

Principal diagnosis Number Per cent
V56 Encounter for dialysis 126,551 8.2
366 Cataract 78,855 5.1
V58 Other and unspecified procedures and aftercare(a) 64,906 4.2
V57 Care involving use of rehabilitation procedures 50,203 3.3
428 Heart failure 35,155 2.3
411 Other acute and subacute forms of ischaemic heart disease 31,259 2.0
173 Other malignant neoplasm of skin 29,945 2.0
715 Osteoarthritis and allied disorders 24,775 1.6
530 Diseases of oesophagus 24,709 1.6
427 Cardiac dysrhythmias 20,748 1.4
562 Diverticula of intestine 20,587 1.3
410 Acute myocardial infarction 19,828 1.3
413 Angina pectoris 19,495 1.3
V67 Follow-up examination 18,845 1.2
786 Symptoms involving respiratory system, chest 18,561 1.2
600 Hyperplasia of prostate 17,795 1.2
414 Other chronic ischaemic heart disease 17,423 1.1
780 General symptoms 16,506 1.1
535 Gastritis and duodenitis 15,432 1.0
820 Fracture of neck of femur 15,373 1.0
- All other diagnoses 867,922 56.5
- Not stated 1,329 0.1
Total separations 1,536,202 100.0

(a) Includes chemotherapy.

Patients aged 65 or more; separations for the 20 most frequently occurring principal procedures, Australia 1995 - 96

Principal procedure Number Per cent
39 Other operations on vessels(a) 134,618 8.8
45 Incision, excision and anastomosis of intestine(b) 121,600 7.9
99 Other non-operative procedures(c) 103,165 6.7
13 Operations on lens 79,123 5.2
86 Operations on skin and subcutaneous tissue 43,993 2.9
57 Operations on urinary bladder 38,360 2.5
81 Repair and plastic operations on joint structures 33,022 2.2
87 Diagnostic radiology 26,588 1.7
37 Other operations on heart and pericardium 25,038 1.6
88 Other diagnostic radiology and related techniques 21,288 1.4
60 Operations on prostate and seminal vesicles 20,739 1.4
93 Physical, respiratory therapy, rehabilitation and related procedures 19,828 1.3
79 Reduction of fracture and dislocation 17,304 1.1
53 Repair of hernia 16,584 1.1
51 Operations on gall bladder and biliary tract 16,119 1.1
38 Incision, excision and occlusion of vessels 14,920 1.0
36 Operations on vessels of heart 13,544 0.9
92 Nuclear medicine 12,336 0.8
80 Incision and excision of joint structures 11,277 0.7
21 Operations on nose 9,251 0.6
- All other procedures 203,087 13.2
- No procedure or not stated 554,418 36.1
Total separations 1,536,202 100.0

(a) Includes haemodialysis. (b) Includes endoscopies. (c) Includes chemotherapy.

 

References/further reading

Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) 1997. Australian hospital statistics 1995 - 96. Health Services Series No. 10. Canberra: AGPS.

Data sources

Data presented here are drawn from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare National Hospital Morbidity Database (includes data from public acute and psychiatric hospitals, Department of Veterans' Affairs hospitals, and private acute and psychiatric hospitals).

Prepared by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare