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Published on: August 24, 2019

Acute appendicitis risks of complications: age and Medicaid insurance

S L Bratton1, C M Haberkern, J H Waldhausen

  • 1Department of Anesthesiology, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, USA. bratton@ohsu.edu

Pediatrics
|July 6, 2000
PubMed

Insights

Young children and those with Medicaid insurance face higher risks of complicated appendicitis. This study highlights disparities in pediatric acute appendicitis outcomes.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Surgery
  • Epidemiology
  • Health Services Research

Background:

  • Acute appendicitis is a common surgical emergency in children.
  • Understanding risk factors for complicated appendicitis is crucial for improving outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To describe the epidemiology of acute appendicitis in children in Washington State.
  • To identify risk factors associated with complicated appendicitis in pediatric patients.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective cohort study utilizing hospital discharge data from Washington State (1987-1996).
  • Inclusion criteria: children (<17 years) with a primary diagnosis code for acute appendicitis.
  • Complicated disease defined as perforation or abscess formation.

Main Results:

  • Young children (0-4 years) had the lowest incidence but a 5-fold increased risk of complicated appendicitis compared to teenagers.
  • Children with Medicaid insurance had a 1.3-fold increased risk of complicated disease versus those with commercial insurance.
  • Medicaid patients experienced a longer average hospital stay.

Conclusions:

  • Very young children and those with Medicaid insurance are at higher risk for complicated appendicitis.
  • Disparities in care and outcomes associated with insurance type warrant further investigation.
  • Additional research is needed to address barriers to care for children with Medicaid insurance.
Abstract

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