Avoidable admissions

Over 65s and children fill hospitals

IRON deficiency anaemia and dental conditions were the two highest causes of preventable hospital admissions in Geelong, according to a report.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (736), urinary tract infections, including pyelonephritis (652), diabetes complications (516), ear, nose and throat infections (502), cellulitis (492), and convulsions and epilepsy (408) were other top causes of almost 5000 potentially preventable hospitalisations in 2017-18.

The report, Disparities in Potentially Preventable Hospitalisations Across Australia 2012–13 to 2017–18, shows that 748,000 (1 in 15 or 6.6 per cent) of hospital admissions were classified as potentially preventable in 2017–18.

Potentially preventable hospitalisations (PPH) are admissions that could have been avoided through preventive care (such as vaccination), or appropriate disease management (such as treatment of infections or management of chronic conditions) in the community.

The most common cause (10 per cent) of potentially preventable hospitalisations was chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Vaccine-preventable pneumonia and influenza, and congestive cardiac failure accounted for the most days of hospital care.

People aged 65 years and over accounted for almost half (46 per cent) of all potentially preventable hospitalisations, and children (aged 0–14) made up 13 per cent (1 in 8).

PPH rates often increase with increasing remoteness and socio-economic disadvantage.

The gap between people living in very remote areas and major cities widened between 2012–13 and 2017–18.

Australian Institute of Health and Welfare spokesman Richard Juckes said similarly, the gap between people living in the lowest and highest socio-economic areas widened for a number of conditions.

“Classifying a hospitalisation as ‘ potentially preventable’ does not mean that the hospitalisation itself was unnecessary; however, it indicates that management at an earlier stage may have prevented the patient’s condition worsening to the point of hospitalisation,” Mr Juckes said.

“It’s important to note that a higher rate of PPH doesn’t always indicate a less effective health system, but PPH are useful for identifying variations between different groups, and understanding health inequalities.”

A Barwon Health spokesman said nearly half of all potentially preventable hospitalisations were related to chronic health conditions that could be managed effectively through good care and support to modify lifestyle choices.