Developmental delay and poverty in the strabismus clinic

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Ophthalmology
• Developmental Pediatrics
• Public Health

Background:

• Strabismus and poverty are frequently observed in children with developmental delays.
• Poverty, often indicated by Medicaid eligibility, is a significant socioeconomic factor.
• Developmental delay is a critical concern in pediatric populations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between poverty and developmental delay in children with strabismus.
• To determine if Medicaid status is a reliable indicator of developmental delay in this cohort.
• To highlight the importance of identifying developmental delays in children with strabismus.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective chart review of 95 pediatric strabismus patients under 7 years old.
• Patients were categorized based on Medicaid coverage (indicator of poverty) and absence thereof.
• Assessment for the presence or absence of developmental delay was conducted.

Main Results:

• Developmental delays were significantly more common in patients with Medicaid (55.3%) compared to those without (27.0%) (P = .0096).
• Medicaid patients were less likely to achieve developmental milestones, such as naming Allen pictures by age 3 (P = .0003).
• These findings suggest a strong correlation between poverty and developmental delays in children with strabismus.

Conclusions:

• Poverty is significantly associated with developmental delays in pediatric strabismus patients.
• Ophthalmologists managing Medicaid patients should proactively screen for developmental delays.
• Early identification and intervention are crucial for improving outcomes in developmentally delayed children with strabismus.