Health
Kidney disease hospitalizations increase dramatically
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted April 14, 2008
The number of people requiring hospital care for kidney problems has gone up significantly, and a growing proportion of these cases are occurring among the elderly. Diabetes and hypertension also is being noted more frequently as a co-existing condition, says a paper in the March 28 Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention researchers analyzed data from the National Hospital Discharge Survey finding that 416,000 hospitalizations in 1980 could be linked to the kidney, and almost half were among those older than 65. This number jumped to 1,646,000 admissions in 2005, and nearly two-thirds were older than 65. More than 23% of these hospitalizations in 1980 were associated with diabetes. This amount grew to 27% in 2005. The number of admissions associated with hypertension increased from almost 20% in 1980 to more than 41% in 2005.
The authors suspect that this is caused by changes in kidney disease classifications and the aging of the population, but they also are seeking more research.
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2008/04/14/hlbf0414.htm.
