2026 Undergraduate Research Showcase

Trends in Diabetes Related Hospital Visits During and After Covid-19 Pandemic

Document Type

Student Presentation

Presentation Date

4-24-2026

Faculty Sponsor

Dr. Kirk Ketelsen

Abstract

Before the Covid-19 pandemic, diabetes hospitalizations were rising among American adults every year, increasing from 48.6 visits per 1,000 adults in 2012 to 74.9 in 2021 (CDC, 2021). After the pandemic, anecdotal evidence suggested trends in diabetes ED visits were declining. We utilized 6 years of statewide ED data (n =134,675) provided by the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare to identify trends in admission rates, between rural and urban counties and outcome disparities in sex. We found that ED visits dropped by more than half from 2021 to 2025, but the admission rate remained stable around 28-29%. Men tended to be admitted significantly more often than women (Cohen’s d of 0.14). Urban admission rates are higher than rural (Cohen’s d of 0.06), which is inconsistent with the national data, possibly due to population density. Future research should examine telehealth utilization and its effects on admissions to the ED. Researchers should also explore the link between glucagon-like peptide-1’s (GLP-1’s) and its effects on diabetes related visits based on how widely available the drugs are to consumers.

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