Nearly brace thirds of the annual ...

Nearly brace thirds of the annual costlinesss for treating severe diabetes complications could be averted with appropriate primary care, according to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ). In 2001 approximately $38 billion was exhausted on inpatient hospital costs for diabetic complications like as heart disease, stroke, kidney failure, blindness, and courage and circulatory problems. An AHRQ analysis closes that nearly $2.5 billion could have been saved with appropriate preventive care. Approximately 30 percent of patients with diabetes are hospitalized multiple times in the same year for similar point in disputes and health care costs for diabetic patients with multiple hospital stays are three times higher than those for patients who are hospitalized sole once. Blacks and other minorities are more likely than non-Hispanic whites to have multiple hospitalizations and higher hospital splendors as are patients enrolled in public insurance programs and those living in low-income communities. More information is available online at http://www.ahrq.gov/data/hcup/highlight1/high1.htm.

COPYRIGHT 2005 American Academy of Family Physicians

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