The Relationship Between Healthy Lifestyle and Hospital Utilization Among Adults With Diabetes

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate whether adopting healthy lifestyle habits, such as engaging in leisure time physical activity (LTPA), adopting recommended dietary patterns, and not smoking, are associated with reduced hospitalizations over 1 year among adults with diabetes. We analyzed data from a national sample of people aged 18 years and above with self-reported physician-diagnosed diabetes (n = 664) through linkage to the 2001 National Health Interview Survey in Taiwan and the 2002 National Health Insurance claims data. Multivariate analysis showed that participants reporting greater than 150 min/wk of moderate-intensity activity had a significantly lower chance for hospitalization (odds ratio = 0.52; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.27-0.98), fewer admissions (incidence rate ratio [IRR] = 0.58; 95% CI = 0.33-1.00), and fewer hospital bed days (IRR = 0.42; 95% CI = 0.20-0.92) compared with inactive individuals. Diet control and smoking status did not significantly predict hospital use after controlling for other factors. Our findings indicate that increased LTPA results in reduced hospitalization among adults with diabetes.

Hospitalizations During a Physical Activity Intervention in Older Adults at Risk of Mobility Disability: Analyses from the Lifestyle Interventions and Independence for Elders Randomized Clinical Trial

“…There was no evidence that the PA intervention reduced LOS. In cross‐sectional and observational studies of older adults, regular PA has been shown to significantly reduce healthcare use and costs, including LOS . However, a recent Cochrane review reported that there was only a nonsignificant trend toward fewer individuals being admitted to the hospital with exercise in randomized controlled trials of exercise‐based interventions with 6 months of follow‐up or longer than with usual medical care.…”

“…It was previously reported that a structured moderate‐intensity physical activity (PA) program reduced major mobility disability more than a health education (HE) program did over an average follow‐up of 2.6 years in older adults at risk of disability . Another potential benefit of a PA intervention that observational studies of older persons have suggested is less risk of hospitalization and fewer admissions and bed stays . However, in the Lifestyle Interventions and Independence for Elders (LIFE) Study, a randomized controlled trial, a nonsignificant difference was found in the overall proportion of randomized participants reporting hospitalizations at assessment visits between PA (48.4%) and HE (44.1%) group participants (risk ratio = 1.10, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.99–1.22); a difference that the LIFE Data Safety and Monitoring Board scrutinized closely during follow‐up as a safety outcome .…”

The effects of economic development and built environment on diabetes in China

“…As a severe medical and social problem, obesity poses a harsh threat to public health for its potential association with a bundle of chronic diseases such as diabetes and hypertension. In recent decades, the risk of obesity and related chronic diseases have been intensively studied [ 1 – 4 ]; however, obesity and related chronic diseases in developing countries have been relatively neglected [ 5 ], though few developing countries are unaffected by these conditions. China, as a developing country, is experiencing a sharp economic growth and subsequently, a substantial increase in weight level, and is receiving an increasing amount of attention [ 6 – 8 ].…”