Analysis of Osteoporosis Determined Hospitalization Episodes in Romania, in the Period 2008-2020

Abstract

WHO considers osteoporosis second health problem in the world, folowing cardiovascular diseases. Every 3th woman/5th man over 50 is threatened by the risk of an osteoporotic fracture, associated with functional impotence, impaired quality of life, increased hospitalizations and mortality and specialists believe should be considered a public health issue. In Romania number of fractures estimated to increase by 17% 2010-2025, by 13% in men and 20% in women. A large proportion of these patients end up in hospital, with costs rising from € 468 million in 2010 to € 537 million in 2025. Effective management would require indepth analysis regarding pattern of patients and health services used. Methods retrospective study (last decade) using DRG database, to identify profile of osteoporosis patient suffering hospitalization and hospital services used. Dynamic analysis of parameters allows identification of evolutionary trend of hospitalizations and geographical distribution, in order to identify problems and represent scientific evidence that can be used for better service planning and development of preventive/curative programs. Results Were analyzed types of involved wards, hospitalization episodes number, length of stay, type of primary/ secondary diagnosis, patient's discharge status and deaths/hospitalization episodes number. Conclusions osteoporosis hospitalized patient profile is female, adult or over 65 years, from urban areas, areas less economically developed, hospitalized for osteoporotic fractures, hospitalization episodes due to osteoporosis decreasing in frequency lately, but increasing episodes ending with patient's death. This type of analysis, are useful tools for decision makers tailoring health policies.