Trends in hospitalizations among children with type 1 diabetes in Spain, 2001-2009.

AIM

To examine the trends in the incidence of hospital discharges among children between 0 and 14 years with type 1 diabetes in Spain (2001-2009).

METHODS

We identified all hospital discharges with a diagnosis of type 1 diabetes, using national hospital discharge data.

RESULTS

A total of 22,955 type 1 diabetes discharges to Spanish hospitals were recorded. The discharge incidence per year increased from 39.6 in 2001 to 40.02 per 100,000 inhabitants in 2009. There was no significant change in hospital discharge rates for children 0-14 years old. In the 0-4 years group, the incidence increased significantly over the study period (incidence rate ratio, 1.031; 95% confidence interval, 1.017-1.045).

CONCLUSION

Hospitalization trends in children 0-4 years old with type 1 diabetes has increased over the study period, consistent with an increase in the incidence of diabetes in Spain. The stable rate for those aged 10-14 years may indicate that the control of these patients in specialized outpatient settings is preventing the expected increase in hospitalizations.