Table 5 Preliminary studies of the main diagnoses for foreign admissions compared with the total population
Purposive sample studyCatalan case study
Most frequent diagnosesEU foreign admissions incidence (CI)Total hospitalisations excluding EU incidence (CI)pMost frequent diagnosesEU foreign admissions incidence (CI)Total hospitalisations excluding EU incidence (CI)p
Fracture of the lower limb (820–829)9.05% (7.83% to 10.81%)2.00% (1.96% to 2.02%)<0.05Normal delivery and other indications for care in pregnancy, labour and delivery (650–659)9.15% (8.58% to 9.73%)4.64% (4.58% to 4.69%)<0.05
Ischaemic heart disease (410–414)5.59% (4.48% to 6.87%)1.22% (1.19% to 1.24%)<0.05Ischaemic heart disease (410–414)8.02% (7.49% to 8.57%)3.03% (2.98% to 3.07%)<0.05
Appendicitis (540–543)3.93% (3.00% to 5.03%)0.75% (0.73% to 0.77%)<0.05Fracture of the lower limb (820–829)2.42% (2.12% to 2.74%)0.03% (0.02% to 0.03%)<0.05
Pneumonia and influenza (480–487)2.13% (1.46% to 2.99%)1.37% (1.34% to 1.39%)<0.05Other forms of heart disease (420–429)1.25% (1.04% to 1.49%)0.22% (0.21% to 0.23%)<0.05
Normal delivery, and other indications for care in pregnancy, labour and delivery (650–659)2.00% (1.35% to 2.83%)1.81% (1.77% to 1.83%)0.289Radiotherapy and chemotherapy1.21% (1.00–1.44%)
Cerebrovascular disease (430–438)1.93% (1.29% to 2.75%)0.96% (0.93% to 0.98%)<0.05Appendicitis (540–543)1.02% (0.82% to 1.23%)0.03% (0.03% to 0.03%)<0.05
Other forms of heart disease (420–429)1.80% (1.18% to 2.60%)1.93% (1.90% to 1.96%)0.351Cerebrovascular disease (430–438)0.78% (0.61% to 0.97%)
Disorders of the eye and adnexa (360–379)0.13% (0.01% to 0.48%)6.86% (6.79% to 6.91%)<0.05Fracture of the upper limb (810–819)0.70% (0.54% to 0.88%)
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and allied conditions (490–496)1.26% (0.76% to 1.96%)2.24% (2.20% to 2.27%)<0.05Malignant neoplasm of bone, connective tissue, skin and breast (170–176)0.47% (0.34% to 0.62%)0.58% (0.55% to 0.59%)0.0763
Hernia of the abdominal cavity (550–553)0.7% (0.00% to 0.37%)1.83% (1.80% to 1.86%)<0.05Other diseases of respiratory system (510–519)0.45% (0.32% to 0.60%)1.13% (1.10% to 1.15%)<0.05
General symptoms (780–789)1.60% (1.02% to 2.36%)1.78% (1.74% to 1.80%)0.299Diseases of the veins and lymphatics, and other diseases of the circulatory system (451–459)0.44% (0.31% to 0.58%)0.65% (0.63% to 0.67%)<0.05
Acute respiratory infections (460–466)1.06% (0.61% to 1.72%)1.59% (1.55% to 1.61%)0.052Neoplasms of unspecified nature (239)0.42% (0.29% to 0.56%)0.82% (0.79% to 0.84%)<0.05
Arthropathies and related disorders (710–719)1.53% (1.50% to 1.56%)0.01Persons seeking health services for specific procedures and aftercare (V50–V59)0.35% (0.24% to 0.48%)0.57% (0.55% to 0.59%)<0.05
Other diseases of the digestive system (570–579)0.79% (0.41% to 1.35%)1.52% (1.49% to 1.55%)<0.05Symptoms (780–789)0.75% (0.73% to 0.77%)
Diseases of veins and lymphatics, and other diseases of the circulatory system (451–459)0.07% (0.00% to 0.37%)1.52% (1.4% to 1.54%)<0.05Disorders of the eye and adnexa (360–379)0.69% (0.66% to 0.70%)
Total patients included in these diagnoses31.40%30.56%Total patients included in these diagnoses38.19%17.78%
Total patients (2003)1503712 901Total patients (2003)9835630 577