The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality has analyzed data from the Hospital Cost and Utilization project to determine the most common primary diagnoses for hospitalization in 2011. According to AHRQ's Statistical Brief #162, the most frequent diagnoses in 2011 were:
1. Liveborn (newborn infant) —123 stays per 10,000 population
2. Pneumonia — 36 stays per 10,000 population
*3. Septicemia — 35 stays per 10,000 population
4. Congestive heart failure (nonhypertensive) — 31 stays per 10,000 population
*5. Osteoarthritis — 31 stays per 10,000 population
6. Mood disorders — 29 stays per 10,000 population.
7. Cardiac dysrhythmias — 26 stays per 10,000 population
8. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and bronchiectasis — 23 stays per 10,000 population
9. Complication of device, implant, or graft — 22 stays per 10,000 population
10. Spondylosis, intervertebral disc disorders and other back problems — 21 per 10,000 population.
For the youngest Americans (1-17), mood disorders were the most commonly recorded principle diagnosis. Adults 18 to 44 years were hospitalized most commonly for conditions related to pregnancy and childbirth. For adults 45 to 64 years, osteoarthritis and back pain were two of the five most frequent reasons for that age group's hospital stay. For adults 65 to 84 years, CHF, septicemia, pneumonia and cardiac dysrhythmias were among that age group's five most frequent principle diagnoses.
The principle diagnoses with the most growth between 1997 and 2011 included:
1. Acute and unspecified renal failure — 346 percent increase (from 4 to 16 stays per 10,000 population)
2. Prolonged pregnancy — 138 percent increase (from 4 to 9 stays per 10,000 population)
*3. Septicemia — 132 percent increase (from 15 to 35 stays per 10,000 population)
4. Pulmonary Heart Disease — 118 percent increase (from 3 to 6 stays per 10,000 population)
*5. Osteoarthritis — 102 percent increase (from 15 to 31 stays per 10,000 population)
6. Anemia — 100 percent increase (from 4 to 7 stays per 10,000 population)
7. Respiratory failure, insufficiency or arrest — 78 percent increase (from 7 to 13 stays per 10,000 population)
8. Skin and subcutaneous tissue infections — 73 percent increase (from 12 to 21 stays per 10,000 population)
9. Previous Cesarean section — 62 percent increase (from 10 to 16 stays per 10,000 population)
10. Intestinal infection — 59 percent increase (from 5 to 8 stays per 10,000 population)
For comparison, the average percentage change for all principle diagnoses between 1997 and 2011 was a 3 percent decrease.
Note: An asterisk denotes a primary diagnosis appearing on both the most-common diagnoses for 2011 and the largest percent increase in diagnosis between 1997 and 2011 lists.
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