Indicators for the Australian National Diabetes Strategy 2016–2020: data update

Indicator 3.8 Diabetes hospitalisations by type of diabetes

3.8.1 Type 1 diabetes

Overview

In 2017–18, there were around 61,900 hospitalisations with a principal and/or additional diagnosis of type 1 diabetes —250 per 100,000 population.

Trends

After adjusting for age, type 1 diabetes hospitalisation rates remained relatively similar between 2012–13 and 2017–18 (222 and 242 per 100,000 population, respectively) (Figure 3.8.1.1).

Age and sex

The age-standardised hospitalisation rates for type 1 diabetes were slightly higher in males than females (246 and 240 hospitalisations per 100,000 population, respectively) in 2017–18. Age-specific rates peaked in those aged 65–74 (407 hospitalisations per 100,000 population) (Figure 3.8.1.1).

Population groups

Age-standardised hospitalisation rates for type 1 diabetes varied across the remoteness areas, with the highest rate in Inner regional (317 per 100,000 population) and the lowest hospitalisation rate in Remote and very remote areas (192 per 100,000 population). Rates were 1.6 times as high among those living in the lowest socioeconomic areas compared to those living in the highest socioeconomic areas (305 and 188 per 100,000, respectively) (Figure 3.8.1.2).

State and territory

There was some variation between states and territories with the highest hospitalisation rate with a principal and/or additional diagnosis of type 1 diabetes in Tasmania (335 per 100,000 population) and lowest hospitalisation rate in the Northern Territory (149 per 100,000 population) (Figure 3.8.1.2).

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people

In 2017–18, there were around 3,000 hospitalisations with a principal and/or additional diagnosis of type 1 diabetes among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, equating to 361 per 100,000 population. After adjusting for age, the hospitalisation rate was almost twice as high among Indigenous people compared with non-Indigenous people (446 and 233 per 100,000, respectively) (Figure 3.8.1.2).

Explore the data

3.8.1 Type 1 diabetes hospitalisations, by diagnosis type, age and sex, 2012–13 to 2017–18 and by selected population group, 2017–18

3.8.2 Type 2 diabetes

Overview

In 2017–18, there were around 1.1 million hospitalisations with a principal and/or additional diagnosis of type 2 diabetes—5,500 per 100,000 population.

Trends

After adjusting for age, the hospitalisation rates for type 2 diabetes increased from 3,800 per 100,000 in 2012–13 to 4,900 per 100,000 population in 2017–18 (Figure 3.8.2.1).

Age and sex

The age-standardised hospitalisation rate was 1.4 times as high among men as women (5,700 and 4,100 hospitalisations per 100,000 population, respectively). Age-specific hospitalisation rates increased with age, reaching a peak in those aged 75–84 (24,400 per 100,000 population) (Figure 3.8.2.1).

Population groups

Hospitalisation rates for type 2 diabetes increased with remoteness and socioeconomic disadvantage. Rates were 2.5 times as high among those living in Remote and very remote areas as Major cities (11,500 and 4,600 per 100,000 population, respectively). Rates were 2.0 times as high among those living in the lowest socioeconomic areas compared to those living in the highest socioeconomic areas (6,700 and 3,300 per 100,000, respectively) (Figure 3.8.2.2).

State and territory

Hospitalisation rates for type 2 diabetes varied by state and territory in 2017–18, from 3,300 per 100,000 population in the Australian Capital Territory to 11,100 per 100,000 population in the Northern Territory (Figure 3.8.2.2).

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people

In 2017–18, there were around 69,000 hospitalisations with a principal and/or additional diagnosis of type 2 diabetes among Indigenous adults, a rate of 14,000 per 100,000 population. The age-standardised hospitalisation rate was almost 5 times as high among Indigenous adults as non-Indigenous adults (19,000 and 4,500 per 100,000, respectively) (Figure 3.8.2.2).

Explore the data

3.8.2 Type 2 diabetes hospitalisations, by diagnosis type, age and sex, 2012–13 to 2017–18 and by selected population group, 2017–18

3.8.3 Diabetes during pregnancy

Overview

In 2017–18, around 62,800 women were admitted to hospital with a principal and/or additional diagnosis of diabetes during pregnancy, a rate of 18,000 per 100,000 females aged 10–54 years with a pregnancy outcome.

Trends

Age-standardised hospitalisation rates increased from 10,300 per 100,000 females aged 10–54 years with a pregnancy outcome in 2012–13 to 20,200 per 100,000 females in 2017–18 (Figure 3.8.3.1).

Age

The hospitalisation rate increased with age, reaching a peak in those aged 45–54 (34,200 per 100,000 females) (Figure 3.8.3.1).

Population groups

Hospitalisation rates for diabetes during pregnancy rose with increasing socioeconomic disadvantage. Rates were almost twice as high among those living in the lowest socioeconomic areas as those living in the highest socioeconomic areas (26,100 and 14,100 per 100,000 females aged 10–54 years with a pregnancy outcome, respectively). Compared with females living in Major cities, those living in Remote and very remote areas were 2.5 times as likely to be hospitalised with diabetes during pregnancy (19,400 and 48,500 per 100,000 females aged 10–54 years with a pregnancy outcome, respectively) (Figure 3.8.3.2).

State and territory

Rates varied by state and territory with the Australian Capital Territory having the highest rate (29,400 per 100,000 females aged 10–54 years with a pregnancy outcome) and Western Australia having the lowest rate (14,200 per 100,000 females) (Figure 3.8.3.2).

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people

Around 3,800 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander females were admitted to hospital with a principal and/or additional diagnosis of diabetes during pregnancy, a rate of 24,700 per 100,000 females aged 10–54 years with a pregnancy outcome. Age-standardised rates were 1.8 times as high among Indigenous females in this cohort as non-Indigenous females (36,300 and 19,800 per 100,000 females, respectively) (Figure 3.8.3.2).

About the data

Rates for this indicator have been calculated based on the number of hospitalisations of females with a pregnancy outcome.

Diabetes in pregnancy data includes hospitalisations with principal and/or additional diagnosis of gestational diabetes. Caution should be taken when comparing rates over time, due to a number of factors affecting the diagnosis of gestational diabetes in Australia in recent years. These include the introduction of new diagnostic guidelines and increasing risk factors in the population (see trends discussion in Incidence of gestational diabetes in Australia for more information).

Explore the data

3.8.3 Hospitalisations for diabetes during pregnancy, by diagnosis type and age group, 2012–13 to 2017–18 and by selected population group, 2017–18

Indicator 3.8.3 data specifications

3.8.4 Diabetes - other and unspecified

Overview

In 2017–18, there were around 14,100 hospitalisations with a principal and/or additional diagnosis of other and unspecified diabetes—57 per 100,000 population.

Trends

After adjusting for age, hospitalisation rates remained relatively stable between 2012–13 and 2017–18 (between 47 and 54 per 100,000 population) (Figure 3.8.4.1).

Age and sex

The age-standardised hospitalisation rates were slightly higher in males than females (57 and 48 hospitalisations per 100,000 population, respectively) in 2017–18. Age-specific rates peaked in those aged 75–84 (170 hospitalisations per 100,000 population) (Figure 3.8.4.1).

Population groups

Age-standardised hospitalisation rates were slightly higher among those living in the lowest socioeconomic areas compared to those living in the highest socioeconomic areas (56 and 49 hospitalisations per 100,000 population, respectively), and higher among those living in Remote and very remote areas compared to those living in Major cities (63 and 53 hospitalisations per 100,000 population, respectively) (Figure 3.8.4.2).

State and territory

Rates varied by state and territory with South Australia having the highest rate (75 hospitalisations per 100,000 population) and the Australian Capital Territory having the lowest (25 hospitalisations per 100,000 population) (Figure 3.8.4.2).

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people

In 2017–18, there were around 885 hospitalisations with a principal and/or additional diagnosis of other and unspecified diabetes among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, equating to 156 per 100,000 population. After adjusting for age, the hospitalisation rate was more than 3 times as high among Indigenous people as non-Indigenous people (156 and 48 per 100,000, respectively).

Explore the data

3.8.4 Hospitalisations by diabetes type: ‘Other & unspecified’, by diagnosis type, age and sex, 2012–13 to 2017–18 and by selected population group, 2017–18

References

Stone MA, Camosso‐Stefinovic J, Wilkinson J, Lusignan SD, Hattersley AT & Khunti K 2010. Incorrect and incomplete coding and classification of diabetes: a systematic review. Diabetic Medicine 27:491–7.