Hospitalisation patterns for respiratory diseases in Australia: an ecological study.

OBJECTIVES

The objective of this study is to examine the hospitalisation profile for respiratory diseases in Australia between 1998 and 2019.

DESIGN

An ecological study.

SETTING

A population study that involved all private and public hospitalisations for respiratory diseases in Australia from 1998 to 2019. Data were gathered from the National Hospital Morbidity Database.

PARTICIPANTS

All patients who were hospitalised at all private and public hospitalisations for respiratory diseases in Australia.

PRIMARY OUTCOME MEASURE

Hospitalisation rates related to respiratory diseases.

RESULTS

A total of 8 090 021 hospital admission episodes for diseases of the respiratory system were recorded in Australia between 1998 and 2019. Hospital admission rates increased by 12.4%, from 1766.45 (95% CI 1760.50 to 1772.41) in 1998 to 1985.86 (95% CI 1980.43 to 1991.28) in 2019 per 100 000 persons, p<0.05. Patients who were admitted for an overnight stay made up 82.2% of the total admissions. Females showed a greater increase in hospital admission rates (18.4%) compared with males (7.0%). The age group 15-59 years accounted for 31.0% of the total admissions. The most frequent respiratory system hospital admissions were for chronic lower respiratory diseases; these accounted for 27.8% of all admissions.

CONCLUSION

Hospital admissions due to diseases of the respiratory system increased significantly in the last two decades in Australia. Male gender and younger age groups were more likely to be hospitalised for respiratory diseases. Strong public health measures are crucial to raising awareness about diseases of the respiratory system and their implications.