Association of type 2 diabetes with prolonged hospital stay and increased rate of readmission in patients with lower limb cellulitis

• Published in: Internal medicine journal 2017-01, Vol.47 (1), p.82-88
• Main Authors: Wijayaratna, S. M., Cundy, T., Drury, P. L., Sehgal, S., Wijayaratna, S. A., Wu, F.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Age; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Amputation - statistics & numerical data; Case-Control Studies; Cellulitis; Cellulitis - epidemiology; Diabetes; diabetes complications; Diabetes mellitus; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 - complications; Ethnicity; Female; hospitalisations; Humans; Length of Stay - statistics & numerical data; Logistic Models; Lower Extremity - physiopathology; lower limb cellulitis; Male; Middle Aged; Minority & ethnic groups; New Zealand; Patient Readmission - statistics & numerical data; readmissions; Retrospective Studies; Risk Factors; type 2 diabetes
• ISSN: 1444-0903; 1445-5994
• DOI: 10.1111/imj.13299

Background/Aims Lower limb (LL) cellulitis‐related hospitalisations are prevalent in type 2 diabetes subjects. We assess its costs and factors associated with length of stay and readmissions. Methods A retrospective case‐control study at an urban hospital servicing a multi‐ethnic population in New Zealand, where 7% of the adult population is estimated to have diabetes. Admissions with LL cellulitis in 2008–2013 were identified using coding records. Subsequent hospitalisations after 1 month with the same diagnosis were classified as readmissions. Glycaemic control was assessed by HbA1c measured within 6 months of the index admission. Results There were 4600 admissions with LL cellulitis in 3636 patients, including 719 patients (20%) with type 2 diabetes. Hospital stay was longer for type 2 diabetes patients (median 5.3 vs 3.0 days, P