Diabetes Mellitus (DM) Hospitalizations

Chronic Diseases

There were more than 5,000 hospital admissions among residents of Simcoe Muskoka for Diabetes Mellitus (DM) between 2003 and 2010, which accounted for two per cent of all hospitalizations during this time period.

The age-standardized hospitalization rate for DM in Simcoe Muskoka for all ages and sexes in 2010 was 101.1 (92.7, 109.6) per 100,000 population, which was significantly higher than the Ontario rate of 82.1 (80.6, 83.6) per 100,000 population. The standardized morbidity ratio (SMR) for DM hospitalizations in Simcoe Muskoka compared with Ontario was 1.20 (1.10, 1.29), which means that there was a 20 per cent greater DM hospitalization experience in Simcoe Muskoka relative to Ontario in 2010.

Figure one shows the trend in DM hospitalizations rates for Simcoe Muskoka and Ontario over the eight year period between 2003 and 2010. The trend in the Ontario rates was relatively flat over this time period. The rates in Simcoe Muskoka rose significantly between 2003 and 2005, peaking at a rate of 131.1 (121.4, 140.8) per 100,000 population; however, since that time the Simcoe Muskoka rates have been declining steadily at nearly five per cent per year (-8.0%, -0.6%) and have returned to the 2003 levels.

Figure One

By Sex

In 2010, the age-standardized DM hospitalization rate among Simcoe Muskoka males was 114.7 (102.0, 127.3) per 100,000, which was significantly higher than the female rate of 89.5 (78.1, 100.9) per 100,000. The DM hospitalization rate for both Ontario males and females was significantly lower than the Simcoe Muskoka rate in 2010.

Figure two shows the trend in DM hospitalization rates for males and females in Simcoe Muskoka over the eight year period between 2003 and 2010. The DM rates among males in Simcoe Muskoka have been consistently higher than the female rate for this time period.

Figure Two

By Age Group

Hospitalizations for DM increases with age (see figure three). The age-specific rate for DM hospitalizations between 2003 and 2010 (combined) in Simcoe Muskoka was highest among those 75 years and older at 375.4 (369.6, 379.2) hospital discharges per 100,000 population.

Figure Three