Hospitalization and Home Health Care

In 2008, there were 35.7 million short-stay hospital discharges. Overall, females had a higher hospital discharge rate than males and accounted for 60 percent of all discharges (1,385.2 versus 964.9 per 10,000 population). However, nearly 20 percent of hospital stays for all females were due to childbirth. When discharges due to childbirth are not counted, the hospital discharge rate for females is more comparable to that for men (1,116.0 per 10,000 population). Six diagnostic categories accounted for over two-thirds of all hospitalizations, excluding childbirth. These included diseases of the circulatory, respiratory, digestive, musculoskeletal, and genitourinary systems, as well as injury and poisoning. Of these, women had a significantly higher hospital discharge rate than men for diseases of the genitourinary system (89.5 versus 47.5 per 10,000 population), which includes urinary tract infections. Among specific diagnoses, women had a hospitalization rate more than twice that of men for urinary tract infections and hip fractures.

On any given day in 2007, there were about 1.5 million people receiving home health care services. Overall, women account for a greater proportion of users of home health care than men (64.8 versus 35.2 percent, respectively). The proportion of home health care users that are women increases with age. Among those aged 85 years or older, 72.3 percent were women.

As the U.S. population ages, there will be a greater reliance on home health care and on those providing care in the home. Research has found that the burden of care-giving may have numerous physical and emotional health consequences including increased likelihood of chronic disease, fatigue and loss of sleep, stress or anxiety, pain, depression, and headaches.¹ As such, the health needs of female caregivers will also need to be addressed.

1 Godfrey JR, Warshaw GA. Toward Optimal Health: Considering the Enhanced Healthcare Needs of Women Caregivers. Journal of Women’s Health. 2009; 18(11): 1739-1742.

This image is described in the Data section.

This image is described in the Data section.