In the financial year 1997-98, visits for dialysis accounted for about one in four hospital admissions among patients identified as Indigenous. (In Australia, most dialysis units are hospital-based, and routine dialysis visits are counted as same-day hospital admissions.) Although it is likely that Indigenous dialysis visits have been under-estimated due to incomplete identification, there were still about 7 times more hospital admissions for dialysis among males identified as Indigenous, and about 11 times more among females identified as Indigenous, than would be expected based on all-Australian rates. This is a reflection of the much higher rates of end-stage renal disease among Indigenous Australians.

Conditions relating to pregnancy and childbirth were the second most common reason for admission among females identified as Indigenous. Despite under-ascertainment of Indigenous hospital admissions, there were about 40% more pregnancy-related admissions among females identified as Indigenous than would be expected based on all-Australian rates. This is not surprising given the higher fertility rates of Indigenous women.

Injury and respiratory disease were also relatively common principal diagnoses, and despite under-ascertainment, both were recorded in greater numbers for Indigenous males and females than would be expected based on all-Australian rates.