Prevalence, hospital admissions and costs of child chronic conditions: A population-based study

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Health
• Public Health
• Health Services Research

Background:

• Chronic conditions represent a significant burden on pediatric healthcare systems.
• Understanding the prevalence and impact of chronic conditions in children is crucial for resource allocation and policy development.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the population-based prevalence of chronic conditions in children admitted to hospital.
• To analyze hospital utilization and associated costs for these pediatric admissions.
• To identify disparities in prevalence and healthcare access among different socioeconomic and geographic groups.

Main Methods:

• Utilized hospital admissions data for children under 16 years old in New South Wales, Australia, spanning from 2002 to 2013.
• Calculated prevalence rates per 1000 children.
• Compared length of stay, bed-day consumption, and total hospital costs between admissions with and without chronic conditions.

Main Results:

• In 2013, the prevalence of chronic conditions was 25.1 per 1000 children, with 35% of all pediatric admissions involving a chronic condition.
• Respiratory and neurological conditions were most prevalent. Mental health conditions were more common in older children.
• Admissions with chronic conditions had longer hospital stays (3.0 vs. 1.6 days), consumed 50% of total bed-days, and accounted for 43% of total hospital costs.

Conclusions:

• Significant differences in prevalence and hospital service utilization suggest inequities in access to care for children with chronic conditions.
• There is a need for the development of more appropriate and equitable models of care to address these disparities.
• Findings highlight the substantial impact of pediatric chronic conditions on hospital resources and costs.