Burden and factors associated with hospitalization among patients with chronic Diseases at a tertiary Hospital in Wolaita Zone, South Ethiopia: A Cross-sectional study
- 1Wolaita Sodo University
Abstract
BackgroundChronic diseases are the leading causes of illness, disability, and death worldwide, with a disproportionate burden in low- and middle-income countries. Hospitalization is a critical outcome in chronic disease management, reflecting disease severity, treatment failure, and healthcare utilization. However, data on hospitalization burden and its associated factors among chronic disease patients in Ethiopia, are limited. This study aimed to determine the rate of hospitalization and its associated factors among patients with chronic diseases attending a tertiary hospital in Wolaita Zone, South Ethiopia.
MethodsA facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 321 patients with chronic diseases attending the chronic follow-up clinic at Wolaita Sodo University Comprehensive Specialized Hospital from November to December 2022. Consecutive recruitment was used, with unique medical record numbers tracked to prevent double recruitment. Data were collected through structured questionnaires and medical record review. Negative binomial regression was used to identify factors associated with hospitalization rate, with incidence rate ratios (IRR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) reported. A p-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.
ResultsOf the 321 participants, 66% reported at least one hospitalization while on treatment, with a mean of 1.70 {+/-} 1.81 hospitalizations per patient. Drug discontinuation was the most frequently documented reason for hospitalization (39.5%), followed by disease complications (22.3%) and infections (11.7%). Multimorbidity was prevalent, with the majority (59.8%) had 2-3 conditions, and a mean of 2.40 {+/-} 1.02 chronic diseases per patient. Male sex was associated with a higher hospitalization rate, while regular physical exercise was associated with a lower number of hospitalizations.
ConclusionThis study found a high burden of hospitalization among chronic disease patients, with drug discontinuation being the leading documented reason. Male sex and regular physical exercise were significantly associated highlighting the need for medication adherence support programs and structured exercise programs integrated into routine chronic disease care, as well as gender-sensitive interventions.
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BibTeX
@misc{koyra2026burden,
title = {{Burden and factors associated with hospitalization among patients with chronic Diseases at a tertiary Hospital in Wolaita Zone, South Ethiopia: A Cross-sectional study}},
author = {H. C. Koyra and Y. W. Belete and Z. Z. Kanche and Z. Desalegn and M. M. Koyra},
howpublished = {medRxiv},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.64898/2026.10.14.26365506},
url = {https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.10.14.26365506v1},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - UNPB
TI - Burden and factors associated with hospitalization among patients with chronic Diseases at a tertiary Hospital in Wolaita Zone, South Ethiopia: A Cross-sectional study
AU - H. C. Koyra
AU - Y. W. Belete
AU - Z. Z. Kanche
AU - Z. Desalegn
AU - M. M. Koyra
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/14
PB - medRxiv
DO - 10.64898/2026.10.14.26365506
UR - https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.10.14.26365506v1
AB - BackgroundChronic diseases are the leading causes of illness, disability, and death worldwide, with a disproportionate burden in low- and middle-income countries. Hospitalization is a critical outcome in chronic disease management, reflecting disease severity, treatment failure, and healthcare utilization. However, data on hospitalization burden and its associated factors among chronic disease patients in Ethiopia, are limited. This study aimed to determine the rate of hospitalization and its associated factors among patients with chronic diseases attending a tertiary hospital in Wolaita Zone, South Ethiopia. MethodsA facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 321 patients with chronic diseases attending the chronic follow-up clinic at Wolaita Sodo University Comprehensive Specialized Hospital from November to December 2022. Consecutive recruitment was used, with unique medical record numbers tracked to prevent double recruitment. Data were collected through structured questionnaires and medical record review. Negative binomial regression was used to identify factors associated with hospitalization rate, with incidence rate ratios (IRR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) reported. A p-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. ResultsOf the 321 participants, 66% reported at least one hospitalization while on treatment, with a mean of 1.70 {+/-} 1.81 hospitalizations per patient. Drug discontinuation was the most frequently documented reason for hospitalization (39.5%), followed by disease complications (22.3%) and infections (11.7%). Multimorbidity was prevalent, with the majority (59.8%) had 2-3 conditions, and a mean of 2.40 {+/-} 1.02 chronic diseases per patient. Male sex was associated with a higher hospitalization rate, while regular physical exercise was associated with a lower number of hospitalizations. ConclusionThis study found a high burden of hospitalization among chronic disease patients, with drug discontinuation being the leading documented reason. Male sex and regular physical exercise were significantly associated highlighting the need for medication adherence support programs and structured exercise programs integrated into routine chronic disease care, as well as gender-sensitive interventions.
ER -