Trends in hospitalization of patients with diabetes mellitus in Ghana from 2012 to 2017 with predictions to 2032

Background: This study explores sociodemographic and health factors associated with hospitalizing diabetes mellitus (DM) patients and estimates the number of future hospitalizations for DM in Ghana.

Methods: We conducted a secondary analysis using nationally representative patient hospitalization data provided by the Ghana Health Service and projected population counts from the Ghana Statistical Service. Data were stratified by year, age, sex and region. We employed Poisson regression to determine associations between sociodemographic and health factors and hospitalization rates of DM patients. Using projected population counts, the number of DM-related hospitalizations for 2018 through 2032 were predicted. We analysed 39 846 DM records from nearly three million hospitalizations over a 6-y period (2012-2017).

Results: Most hospitalized DM patients were elderly, female and from the Eastern Region. The hospitalization rate for DM was higher among patients ages 75-79 y (rate ratio [RR] 23.7 [95% confidence interval {CI} 18.6 to 30.3]) compared with those ages 25-29 y, females compared with males (RR 1.9 [95% CI 1.4 to 2.5]) and the Eastern Region compared with the Greater Accra Region (RR 1.9 [95% CI 1.7 to 2.2]). The predicted number of DM hospitalizations in 2022 was 11 202, in 2027 it was 12 414 and in 2032 it was 13 651.

Conclusions: Females and older patients are more at risk to be hospitalized, therefore these groups need special surveillance with targeted public health education aimed at behavioural changes.