ACUTE-CARE HOSPITAL MORBIDITY IN THE BLOOD INDIAN BAND, 1984-87

Acute care hosptial morbidity of the Blood Indian Band was compared wi th that of all Albertans between April 1, 1984 and March 31, 1987. The Blood Indians had over 2.5 times as many hospital separations and 2.2 times as many patients days as the Albertans. The highest separation rate ratios by ICD-9-CM chapter for both Blood males and females were for endocrine, metabolic and nutritional disorders. Blood females had higher rate ratios for hospitalizaitons for all chapters except neopla sms and Blood males had higher rate ratios for all except congenital a nomalies and neoplasms. For individual conditions, Blood males had the highest separation rate ratios for alcohol dependence syndrome, gastr itis/duodenitis and diabetes mellitus. Bronchitis/emphysema and diabet es mellitus had the highest rate ratios for Blood females. The results are consistent with those reported in other studies of North American Indians. Their health status is more consistent with a developing cou ntry than that expected in Canada and does not appear to be improving.