The urban-rural divide : hypertensive disease hospitalisations in Victoria 2010–2015
- Authors: Robins, Shalley , Gardiner, Samantha , Terry, Daniel
- Date: 2017
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Australasian Medical Journal Vol. 10, no. 11 (2017), p. 953-963
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- Description: Background Hypertension is present in 23–32 per cent of Australians, making it one of the most prevalent diseases in the country. It is the greatest risk factor for cardiovascular disease, the leading cause of death in Australia and it affects rural populations at a higher rate than urban residents. Aims The aims of this study were to investigate the differences in hypertensive disease hospitalisations across rural and urban Victoria, and to determine predicting variables. Methods Hospital admission data from 1 July 2010 to 30 June 2015 were obtained through the Victorian Admitted Episodes Dataset and other organisations. Data included various patient demographics for each hospital admission entry. The rates of hospitalisation for each Local Government Area were analysed. Further regression analysis was undertaken to examine the association between hypertensive disease hospitalisation and various predictor variables. Results From 2010–2015 11,205 hypertensive disease hospital admissions were recorded of which 64.8 per cent were female, 74.7 per cent admissions were at urban hospitals, and 65.0 per cent were public patients. Hospitalisation rates were consistently higher in rural areas than in urban areas, and rural residents on average stayed in hospital for longer. Significant predictor variables for hypertensive disease hospitalisation included various indicators of socioeconomic disadvantage, GPs per 1,000 population and GP attendance per 1,000 population. Conclusion Hypertensive disease hospitalisation in Victoria continues to rise and rates of hospitalisation of rural Victorians continue to be higher than their urban counterparts. Females were hospitalised almost twice as often as males. Further research is required to identify the specific factors that impede access to health services, particularly in the identified high-risk populations. © 2017, Australasian Medical Journal Pty Ltd. All rights reserved.
The burden of hospitalised fall-related injury in community-dwelling older people in Victoria : A database study
- Authors: Vu, Trang , Day, Lesley , Finch, Caroline
- Date: 2014
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health Vol. 38, no. 2 (April 2014), p. 128-133
- Relation: http://purl.org/au-research/grants/nhmrc/565900
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- Description: Objective: To estimate the burden of hospitalised fall-related injury in community-dwelling older people in Victoria. Methods: We analysed fall-related, person-identifying hospital discharge data and patient-level hospital treatment costs for community-dwelling older people aged 65+ years from Victoria between 1 July 2005 and 30 June 2008, inclusive. Key outcomes of interest were length of stay (LOS)/episode, cumulative LOS (CLOS)/patient and inpatient costs. Results: The burden of hospitalised fall-related injury in community-dwelling older people aged 65+ years in Victoria was 284,781 hospital bed days in 2005-06, rising to 310,031 hospital bed days in 2007-08. Seventy-one per cent of episodes were multiday. One in 15 acute care episodes was a high LOS outlier and 14% of patients had ≥1 episode classified as high LOS outlier. The median CLOS/patient was nine days (interquartile range 2-27). The annual costs of inpatient care, in June 2009 prices, for fall-related injury in community-dwelling people aged 65+ years in Victoria rose from $213 million in 2005-06 to $237 million in 2007-08. The burden of hospitalised fall-related injury in community-dwelling older women, people aged 85+ years and those with comorbidity was considerable. Conclusions: The burden of hospitalised fall-related injury in community-dwelling older people aged 65+ years in Victoria is significantly more than previously projected. Importantly, this study identifies that women, patients with comorbidity and those aged 85+ years account for a considerable proportion of this burden. Implications: A corresponding increase in falls prevention effort is required to ensure that the burden is properly addressed.
Increasing incidence of hospitalisation for sport-related concussion in Victoria, Australia
- Authors: Finch, Caroline , Clapperton, Angela , McCrory, Paul
- Date: 2013
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Medical Journal of Australia Vol. 198, no. 8 (2013), p. 427-430
- Relation: http://purl.org/au-research/grants/nhmrc/565900
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- Description: Objective: To describe trends in hospitalisation for sport-related concussion. Design, setting and patients: Analysis of routinely collected hospital admissions data from all Victorian hospitals (public and private) over the 2002-03 to 2010-11 financial years for patients aged ≥15 years with a diagnosis of concussion and an ICD-10-AM external cause activity code indicating sport. Main outcome measures: Number and cost of hospitalisations; rate of hospitalisation per 100000 participants overall and for specific sports; and percentage change in frequency and hospitalisation rate per 100000 participants over 9 years. Results: There were 4745 hospitalisations of people aged ≥15 years for sport-related concussion, with a total hospital treatment cost of $17944799. The frequency of hospitalisation increased by 60.5% (95% CI, 41.7%-77.3%) over the 9 years, but could only partially be explained by increases in sports participation, as the rate per 100000 participants also increased significantly, by 38.9% (95% CI, 17.5%-61.7%). After adjustment for participation, rates were highest for motor sports, equestrian activities, Australian football, rugby and roller sports. The greatest significant increases in rates were seen in roller sports, rugby, soccer and cycling. Conclusions: The frequency and participation-adjusted rate of hospitalisation for sport-related concussion, both overall and across several sports, increased significantly over the 9 years. These findings, along with high levels of public concern, make prevention of head injury in sport a population health priority in Australia.
- Description: 2003011025
How comparable are road traffic crash cases in hospital admissions data and police records? An examination of data linkage rates
- Authors: Lujic, Sanja , Finch, Caroline , Boufous, Soufiane , Hayen, Andrew , Dunsmuir, William
- Date: 2008
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Australian And New Zealand Journal Of Public Health Vol. 32, no. 1 (2008), p. 28-33
- Relation: Open Access
- Full Text: false
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- Description: OBJECTIVES: An assessment of linked data was used to investigate the scope and the extent to which hospitalisations data and police crash records represent road crashes in New South Wales (NSW). METHODS: Hospital separation records for the period 1 July 2000 to 30 June 2001, inclusive, were linked to police crash casualty records for the same period using probabilistic record linkage techniques. Multivariable logistic regression techniques were used to identify factors independently associated with the probability of record linkage. RESULTS: Of 17,552 road transport-related hospital records, 45.1% matched to police crash casualty records. When the analysis was restricted to road traffic crashes, 69.2% of the 9,178 records had a matching police crash casualty record. Multivariable analysis found the most significant factors contributing to the likelihood of linkage to be road user type, payment status and principal diagnosis of injury variables. Motor vehicle controllers, cases entitled to financial compensation and cases with a principal diagnosis of injury were significantly more likely to be linked than all other cases. CONCLUSIONS: The findings indicate that researchers and policy makers should be cautious when examining traffic crashes based on a separate analysis of the hospitalisations data and police crash records. This is particularly true for crashes involving pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists, and those resulting in less severe injuries. IMPLICATIONS: The findings have implications for use of both police crash records and hospital records in informing the development of strategies designed to prevent road trauma in the community.
- Description: 2003006566
Differences in injury rates in child motor vehicle passengers in rural and urban areas in New South Wales, July 2000 to June 2004
- Authors: Du, Wei , Finch, Caroline , Hayen, Andrew , Hatfield, Julie
- Date: 2007
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health Vol. 31, no. 5 (2007), p. 483-488
- Full Text: false
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- Description: Objectives: To investigate whether the pattern of hospitalised injuries in injured child motor vehicle passengers involved in traffic crashes differs in rural and urban residents of New South Wales (NSW). Methods: This study compared injuries of hospitalised child motor vehicle passengers resident in rural areas with those from urban areas. The NSW Inpatient Statistics Collection (ISC), a population-based dataset, was used to select cases for the period of July 2000 to June 2004. The hospitalised injury rate was calculated according to urban/rural status using Poisson regression, injury rate ratios (IRR) comparing rural and urban children were computed overall and for specific injury types. Results: Overall, 1,286 children (aged 0-15 years) residing in NSW were identified from the NSW ISC internally linked datasets as being separated from hospital for injuries resulting from a motor vehicle crash. The overall hospitalised injury incidence rates for child motor vehicle passengers resident in rural and urban NSW areas were 46.75 (95% CI 36.63-59.66) and 20.13 (95% CI 17.94-22.58) per 100,000 children respectively. The rural/urban IRR for comparing the incidence of hospitalisation was significantly elevated (IRR=2.10, 95% CI 1.78-2.48).The IRR was also significantly elevated across most injury types. The largest risk disparity between rural and urban children was in 9-12 year-olds (IRR=2.33, 95% CI 1.73-3.13). Conclusion and Implications: There is an elevated injury incidence rate in rural resident children, compared with their urban counterparts. This differential should be addressed in future road safety initiatives. © 2007 The Authors. Journal Compilation © 2007 Public Health Association of Australia.
- Description: C1
- Description: 2003005762