Who Gets Admitted to the Hospital?

Ever wonder who gets admitted to the hospital?  Here is a one day analysis of my hospitalist patient list.
17 Patient
 

Average height 5 '2''

Median height 5' 4''

Shortest height 4' 7''

Tallest height 6'4''

Average weight 222.2 pounds

Median weight 177 pounds

Lightest weight 123 pounds

Heaviest weight 454 pounds

Average BMI 36.6

Median BMI 31.2

Lowest BMI 21.5

Highest BMI 88.9

Percent of patients with low BMI <20 0% (0/17) Percent of patients with normal BMI 20-25 35.3% (6/17) Percent of patients with overweight BMI 26-30 5.8% (1/17) Percent of patients with obesity BMI 31-40 41.2% (7/17) Percent of patients with morbid obesity BMI >40 17.6% ( 3/17)

Percent of patients diabetic 58.8% (10/17)

Percent of normal BMI patients with diabetes 50% (3/6)

Percent of overweight or obese patients with diabetes 63.6% (7/11)

Of the seven folks without diabetes, 4 (57%) were obese. Why were they admitted?

1) Hyponatremia

2) Facial cellulitis

3) Stroke

4) Stroke

Of the seven folks without diabetes 3 (47%) were of normal BMI. Why were they admitted?

1) Bowel obstruction

2) Drug overdose

3) Orthopaedic fracture

Of the ten folks with diabetes , 6 (60%) were obese . Why were they admitted?

1) To initiate dialysis (Obese)

2) Sepsis (Obese)

3) Pneumonia (Obese)

4) Bowel obstruction (Obese)

5) Heart failure (Obese)

6) Renal failure (Obese)

Of the ten folks with diabetes, 4 (40%) were not obese. Why were they admitted?

1) Bowel obstruction

2) Fever of unknown origin

3) Persistent diarrhea and dehydration

4) Heart failure

What percent of patients carried a BMI over 30 OR a diagnosis of diabetes? 14/17 or 82%.

82% folks. I'm sure if I was able to do add in current or prior tobacco abuse, that number would push 90-95% or more.

The hospital is basically a short term residential apartment for those with obesity or diabetes. If you want to tackle the cost of health care in this country you will have to find a way to drastically reduce the prevalence of both. While just a small sample of my daily population, it is compelling to see how the numbers break out. If you have diabetes or a BMI over 30, you will, at some point represent the 80% of the people who visit our hospitals every year. When the Medicare National Bank is bankrupt in seven short years, and nobody can pay your room rent at Happy's hospital, you will not want to be part of that 80%.

Now is not the time for excuses. Now is the time for action.