July 9, 2008
The federal Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) has just released new statistics on hospitalizations, and the data show respiratory conditions continue to top the list.
In 2006, pneumonia was second only to childbirth as the most common reason for hospitalization, accounting for 1.2 million admissions and ringing up a bill of $10 billion. Other conditions making the top 10 list were: hardening of the arteries, congestive heart failure, chest pain, injuries to the mother during birth, other complications of labor and delivery, heart rhythm problems, osteoarthritis, and heart attack.
COPD ranks number 15 on the hospitalization list, and asthma comes in at number 26. Respiratory failure follows at number 27.
Data on pediatric hospitalizations suggest respiratory conditions make up a large percentage of admissions, with pneumonia coming in at number 2, acute bronchitis at number 3, and asthma at number 4.
On the list of procedures, “respiratory intubation, mechanical ventilation” ranks number 5.
You can search for respiratory-specific statistics in the AHRQ database by going to the agency’s Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project web site. To view tables on the most common reasons for hospitalization nationally or in your state, click on the “Quick National or State Statistics” tab.
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