The number and cost of hospitalizations provide a measure of both morbidity and the burden on the health-care system, and the number of persons hospitalized provides an estimate of the number of persons affected. For at least five reasons, the data in this report may underestimate the total hospitalization burden attributable to chronic diseases. First, many chronic conditions were not ranked within the 10 leading causes of death and therefore were not represented in the tables. Fourth, chronic diseases coded as secondary rather than primary diagnoses may contribute to the need for hospitalization. Fifth, persons receiving care from organizations such as health maintenance organizations, the Veteran's Administration, and the Indian Health Service may not be routinely reported to HCFA, although these persons are included in denominators used here to calculate hospitalization and death rates.
Chronic diseases affect a large proportion of the elderly and are a major public health burden.
Advance report of final mortality statistics, 1987. Chronic disease in the 1990s. Health Care Financing Administration. Medicare enrollment, 1986-87. Health Care Financing Administration.