November 12, 2003 Health Department Publishes First Hospital Stay ReportDocument describes patient trends throughout the state

Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Nov 12, 2003 -

Baton Rouge --- The Department of Health – Office of Public Health, through its Center for Health Statistics (CHS), has released the “Louisiana Hospital Inpatient Discharge Database (LAHIDD) Report.” This publication tracked hospital discharge trends in the state between 1998 and 2000 to discover reasons for hospital stays, identify at-risk populations and develop better disease surveillance. 

Specific information detailed in the report includes patient demographics, diagnoses, procedures and hospital charges. Data are presented both statewide and by parish and includes comparable overall statistics for the United States. 

Some of the findings detailed in the LAHIDD report include:

• Most Louisiana hospital patients were in the 18 – 44 year age group.

• Women accounted for more inpatient hospital stays than men. This may have been because six of the top 10 medical procedures performed during an inpatient hospital stay were related to childbirth or pregnancy.

• Diseases of the circulatory system were the leading diagnoses requiring hospitalization in Louisiana.

• Five out of the top 10 emergency room admissions were related to heart problems.

• Medicare and Medicaid were billed for more than half of all hospital stays in the state.

For more information about the data in this report, or to receive a copy, call CHS at (504) 568-5205 or toll-free at 1-800-256-4609, ext. 5205. Information about the Center is also available online athttp://www.oph.dhh.state.la.us/recordsstatistics/statistics/index.html