Indicators for the Australian National Diabetes Strategy 2016–2020: data update

Indicator 3.12 Hospitalisation for lower limb amputation with type 2 diabetes as a principal or additional diagnosis

Overview

In 2017–18, there were around 5,400 hospitalisations where a lower limb amputation was performed with type 2 diabetes as a principal or additional diagnosis among Australian adults, equating to a rate of 28 hospitalisations per 100,000 population. 

Trends

The age-standardised hospitalisation rate for lower limb amputation with type 2 diabetes as a principal or additional diagnosis increased slightly between 2012–13 and 2017–18 (from 21 to 25 per 100,000 population) (Figure 3.12.1).

Age and sex

In 2017–18, the rate was 3.6 times as high among men as women after adjusting for age (40 and 11 hospitalisations per 100,000 population, respectively). This was consistent across age groups (Figure 3.12.1).

Population groups

The rate increased with the level of remoteness in 2017–18, and was 3 times as high among those living in Remote and very remote areas as those living in Major cities (65 and 22 per 100,000 population, respectively). Hospitalisation rates also increased along with the level of socioeconomic disadvantage—2.7 times as high among those living in the most disadvantaged areas as those living in the most advantaged areas (Figure 3.12.2).

State and territory

Hospitalisation rates were highest in the Northern Territory (63 per 100,000 population) and lowest in Tasmania (19 per 100,000 population). Other states and territories had rates ranging from 21 to 32 per 100,000 population (Figure 3.12.2).

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people

In 2017–18, there were 415 hospitalisations for lower limb amputation with type 2 diabetes as a principal or additional diagnosis among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, equating to 84 hospitalisations per 100,000. After adjusting for age, rates for Indigenous Australians were 4.7 times as high as for non-Indigenous Australians (107 and 23 per 100,000, respectively). The rate was 8 times as high among Indigenous women and 3.5 times as high among Indigenous men when compared to their non-Indigenous counterparts (Figure 3.12.2).

About the data

Hospitalisation data presented for this indicator provides counts on the total number of in-hospital episodes for amputations, but cannot determine the number of individuals undergoing amputation, the number of repeat amputations, nor establish the link between the amputation and diabetes.

Explore the data

3.12 Hospitalisation for lower limb amputation with type 2 diabetes as a principal diagnosis or additional diagnosis, by age group and sex, 2012–13 to 2017–18 and by selected population group, 2017

Indicator 3.12 data specifications