Trends in Potentially Avoidable Hospitalisations Among People With Diabetes in Ireland; 2015–2024

AIM: To examine trends in potentially avoidable hospitalisations (PAHs) among people with diabetes in Ireland between 2015 and 2024, and how trends differ by sex and diabetes type. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Using national hospitalisation data from the Republic of Ireland, we estimated rates and trends in PAHs among people with diagnosed type 1 or type 2 diabetes between 2015 and 2024, during which 181 130 PAHs occurred. This included 21 complications, which were used to create a composite measure. We also grouped these into five condition groups including diabetes-specific, cardiovascular-related, infection, lower extremity and acute kidney failure. We calculated age-standardised rates (ASRs) and assessed temporal trends using linear time-trend models and Joinpoint regression analysis. RESULTS: ASRs decreased from 105.0 (95% CI: 100.4, 109.2) per 1000 people with diabetes in 2015 to 91.0 (95% CI: 87.7, 94.3) in 2024 with an average decline of 2.5% (95% CI: -3.1, 1.7) per year. ASRs were consistently higher among individuals with type 1 diabetes compared with those with type 2 diabetes (p < 0.001). When examined by condition group, ASRs declined steadily over time for all except those relating to infections, which showed an increase from 2022 onwards. CONCLUSION: Although PAHs declined over the study period, rates remained high especially among people with type 1 diabetes. The shifting profile of PAHs towards non-diabetes-specific conditions highlights emerging prevention challenges and the need to strengthen primary and community-based care pathways for people living with diabetes.