Abstract
This analysis provides an insight into bed demand for adults for oral health related conditions in Western Australia. Data were obtained from the Western Australian Hospital Morbidity Data System for the four financial years 1999-2000 to 2002-2003. This retrospective study analysed the principal diagnosis (ICD-10AM) obtained for all 53 646 adult patients diagnosed with an oral health related condition. Primary place of residency, gender and Indigenous status were analysed. More males (52.6 per cent) were hospitalized than females and Indigenous patients were hospitalized 1.5 times more than non-Indigenous patients. "Caries" were most common in non-Indigenous patients, with "jaw fractures" most prevalent in Indigenous patients. The majority of patients were hospitalized in a private metropolitan hospital (57.2 per cent). Total costs of hospitalization, both public and private, were in excess of dollar 85 million over four years with dollar 44 million in the public sector. This study indicates the burden of oral health related conditions on the Western Australian population and the hospital system in terms of health and economical impact.
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