[Hospitalizations and comorbidity of diabetic patients on hemodialysis].

We analysed ambulatory case records of all patients dialysed in 7 hemodialysis centers of Kaunas region during the year 2002 (n=186). Separate analysis of 42 diabetic patients was performed and compared with non-diabetics. Mortality was higher in diabetic patients in comparison with non-diabetics (22.5% and 7.3%, respectively; p<0.01). The mean number of associated diseases was 3.0+/-1.2 per diabetic patient. Disability status was worse in diabetic patients (p<0.01). Hospitalization rate of diabetic patients was 1.5 hospitalizations per patient-year at risk, length 27.3 days per patient-year at risk; duration of one hospital stay was 18 days. The most frequent causes of hospitalization: infections (33% of all hospitalizations), diabetes complications (20%) and cardiovascular pathology (18%). Due to infections diabetic patients on hemodialysis were treated in hospital at longest. In incident diabetic patients (n=16) late referral was observed in 50% of patients and hemodialysis was started through central venous catheter. Starting hemodialysis diabetic patients were treated for longer periods in hospital than non-diabetic patients (duration of one hospitalization 40.6+/-24.4 and 21.3+/-10.4 days, respectively; p<0.001).