Boston Children's Hospital researchers studied whether comorbidities correlated with greater healthcare resource use in pediatric spinal fusions, according to AAP News & Journal.
The study involved 7,252 children, 5 years old or older, who possessed an underlying complex chronic condition. The children underwent spinal fusions.
The researchers analyzed hospital length of stay, cost and 30-day readmission rates.
Pediatrics published the study.
Here are five insights:
1. Of the children, 59 percent had four or more comorbid conditions.
2. The study revealed as the number of chronic conditions increased from one to three to more than 10:
• Median LOS increased by 60 percent
• Median hospital cost grew by 53 percent
• Readmission rates rose by 239 percent
3. Those chronic conditions that impacted LOS and cost included chronic respiratory insufficiency and bladder dysfunction.
4. The likelihood of readmission proved highest for those children with bladder dysfunction and epilepsy.
5. The study authors recommended providers and families consider chronic respiratory insufficiency, bladder dysfunction and epilepsy when "striving to benefit the children's perioperative health and outcomes."