Several cardiovascular conditions rank among the most common reasons for hospitalization in the United States, according to a new study published in European Heart Journal Open.
Researchers explored primary discharge diagnosis statistics from the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) database, focusing on the years 2005, 2008, 2011, 2014, 2016 and 2018.
Overall, the group found 2018’s most common primary discharge diagnoses were:
- Septicemia, or sepsis
- Heart failure
- Osteoarthritis
- Childbirth-related complications
- Pneumonia (not including pneumonia caused by tuberculosis)
- Diabetes-related complications
- Acute myocardial infarction
- Cardiac dysrhythmias
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and bronchiectasis
- Acute and unspecified renal failure
In 2005, the team added, coronary atherosclerosis and related types of heart disease ranked as the No. 2 most common primary discharge diagnosis. Heart failure, meanwhile, was No. 3. Cardiac dysrhythmias and acute myocardial infarction also made the top 10 in 2005.
The study’s authors wrote about the potential impact COVID-19 will have on these statistics in the years ahead.
“The COVID-19 pandemic is likely to be associated with a major shift in the top causes of hospitalization and subsequent outcomes, such as mortality,” wrote lead author Husam M. Salah, MD, of the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock, and colleagues. “While cardiovascular mortality has been relatively stable between 2015-2020, COVID-19 mortality has emerged as the third leading cause of death in 2020 after cancer. The changes in the trend of hospitalizations that is associated with COVID-19 pandemic is not clear yet. As our data predates the COVID-19 pandemic, this study will be an important comparator for future analyses related to causes of hospitalization.”
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Michael has more than 16 years of experience as a professional writer and editor. He has written at length about cardiology, radiology, artificial intelligence and other key healthcare topics.