RESUMEN
Background: Universal coverage (UC) scheme covers most of the population in Thailand (76.3%) and diabetes (DM) was the most prevalent ambulatory disease in most health care centers. Rajavithi Hospital is designated as one of the top referral hospital in Bangkok. Objective: To examine the trend of avoidable hospitalization related to diabetes in the UC patients who registered at Rajavithi Hospital. Results: This cross-sectional study collected data from electronic medical record from Rajavithi Hospital and the National Health Security Office (NHSO). DM and related diseases based on a list of diagnosis codes (ICD-10) were selected as an ambulatory care sensitive condition (ACSC) to reflect the avoidable hospitalization. Outpatient and inpatient data between 2007 and 2011 were studied. The ACSC rate was calculated by number of hospitalizations on DM and related conditions divided by number of the DM patients visited as ambulatory care. Conclusion: The avoidable hospitalization for DM patients registered at Rajavithi Hospital was stable during the five years of the study. Future study on avoidable hospitalization should cover admissions to other hospitals and DM related conditions. Further studies should investigate the reasons of avoidable hospitalization.