HEALTH SERVICES UTILIZATION

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Hospitalizations

Women represented 60 percent of all hospital discharges in 1999. Most hospitalizations occured among persons aged 15-44 and 65 years and older. The high percentage of hospitalizations for women aged 15-44 years corresponds to the high rate of childbirth during these ages; delivery is the most common hospital discharge diagnosis, representing 270.4 hospitalizations per 10,000 women in 1999.

Women were far more likely than men to be hospitalized for diseases of the genitourinary system, diseases of the digestive system, and cancer, and were somewhat more likely than men to be hospitalized for diseases of the respiratory system; diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue; endocrine, nutritional and metabolic diseases; and immunity disorders; and injuries and poisonings. Within these groupings, women were more frequently hospitalized than men for conditions such as asthma, osteoarthritis, diabetes mellitus, fractures, and benign cancer. Though men were more likely to be hospitalized for diseases of the circulatory system, such as heart disease, women were more frequently hospitalized for congestive heart failure and stroke.


Percent distribution of discharges from short-stay hospitals for females by age: Under 15 years of age: 5.5%, 15-44 years: 38.1%, 45-64 years: 18.1%, and 65+ years: 38.4%.


234.8 per 10,000 males were discharged from short-stay hospital visits due to diseases of the circulatory system, followed by diseases of the respiratory system (129.4 per 10,000 males), and diseases of the respiratory system (100.5 p er 10,000 males). Females were primarily discharged from short-stay hospital visits due to diseases of the circulatory system (225.9 per 10,000), followed by diseases of the respiratory system (138.2 per 10,000), and diseases of the respiratory system (125.5 per 10,000).

 

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