2006 National Hospital Discharge Survey.

objectivesThis report presents national estimates of hospital inpatient care in the United States during 2006 and selected trend data. Numbers and rates of discharges, diagnoses, and procedures are shown by age and sex. Average lengths of stay are presented for all discharges and for selected diagnostic categories by age and by sex.

methodsThe estimates are based on data collected through the 2006 National Hospital Discharge Survey, an annual national probability sample survey of discharges from nonfederal, general, and short-stay hospitals. In this report, sample data are weighted to produce annual estimates of inpatient care, excluding newborns. Diagnoses and procedures presented are coded using the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification.

resultsTrends in the utilization of nonfederal short-stay hospitals show that the age distribution of inpatients has changed dramatically from 1970 through 2006. In 1970, 20 percent of inpatients were aged 65 years and over, with those aged 75 years and over comprising 9 percent of all inpatients. By 2006, 38 percent of inpatients were aged 65 years and over, with those aged 75 years and over comprising 24 percent of all inpatients. During this same time period, the percentage of inpatients under age 15 years declined from 13 to 7 percent, and inpatients aged 15-44 years declined 43 to 31 percent. In 2006, there were an estimated 34.9 million hospital discharges, excluding newborn infants. Fifty-eight percent of all discharges were hospitalized 3 days or fewer. The rate of hospitalizations for coronary atherosclerosis for all age groups, particularly those aged 65 years and over, has declined since 2002. There were 46 million procedures performed on inpatients during 2006. The rate of knee replacement for those aged 65 years old increased 46 percent between 2000-2006, whereas the rate doubled among those aged 45-64 years old during the same time period.