Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 30, 2026
Assessment of Child Anthropometry in a Large Epidemiologic Study
Published on: February 2, 2017
Pediatric obesity and safety in inpatient settings: a systematic literature review
Elizabeth E Halvorson1, Megan B Irby2, Joseph A Skelton3
1Department of Pediatrics, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, USA ehalvors@wakehealth.edu.
Insights
Pediatric obesity is linked to increased risks for adverse events in hospitalized children. This review highlights procedural complications and general hospital care issues, emphasizing the need for improved patient safety guidelines.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric healthcare
- Patient safety
- Obesity research
Background:
- Pediatric obesity affects over 16% of US children.
- Obesity is associated with poorer outcomes in hospitalized pediatric patients.
- Adverse care events pose risks to obese children in acute care settings.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically review literature on adverse care events in obese pediatric patients.
- To identify specific risks in emergency, operating, and inpatient settings.
- To inform patient safety guidelines for this population.
Main Methods:
- Systematic literature search of Medline (1970-2013).
- Inclusion of studies on obesity and patient safety in pediatric acute care.
- Analysis of study design, patient numbers, obesity definitions, care settings, and outcomes.
Main Results:
- Thirty-four studies were included, documenting procedural complications and general hospital care issues.
- Most studies were retrospective, focusing on surgery and anesthesia.
- Obese pediatric patients may face elevated risks for various adverse events.
Conclusions:
- Obese children may experience increased risks for adverse events during acute care.
- Further research is needed to refine patient safety guidelines.
- Improved institutional guidelines can enhance care for obese children.
Objective:
Pediatric obesity affects more than 16% of American children and is associated with worse outcomes in hospitalized patients. A systematic literature review was performed to identify studies of adverse care events affecting obese pediatric patients in the emergency room, operating room, or inpatient wards.
Evidence Review:
We systematically searched Medline for articles published from 1970 to 2013 regarding obesity and patient safety events in pediatric acute care settings. We determined the study design, number of patients studied, definition and prevalence of obesity, the relevant acute care setting, the specific association with obesity addressed, and the results of each study.
Results And Conclusion:
Thirty-four studies documented both procedural complications and issues with general hospital care. Most were retrospective and focused on surgery or anesthesia. Obese patients may have increased risk for a variety of adverse events. Further study could improve institutional patient safety guidelines to enhance care for obese children.
