Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 28, 2025
Comparison of Three Clinical Stereoscopic Methods for Measuring Binocular Visual Function During Amblyopic Treatment in Unilateral Amblyopia
Published on: September 27, 2024
Factors Associated with Length of Stay and Cost among Pediatric Hospitalizations with a Primary Ophthalmic Diagnosis
Hursuong Vongsachang1, Mustafa Iftikhar1, Joseph K Canner2
1Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
Insights
Pediatric eye hospitalizations with Medicaid, non-trauma diagnoses, and urban teaching hospitals were linked to longer stays. Higher income, private insurance, Western hospitals, and trauma cases increased costs for pediatric ophthalmic patients.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Health Services Research
- Pediatrics
Background:
- Pediatric hospitalizations for ophthalmic conditions represent a significant healthcare burden.
- Understanding factors influencing length of stay and cost is crucial for optimizing care delivery.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify demographic, hospital, and admission characteristics associated with prolonged length of stay (LOS) and high cost in pediatric hospitalizations with a primary ophthalmic diagnosis.
- To inform strategies for improving resource utilization in pediatric eye care.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of the 2016 Kids' Inpatient Database.
- Inclusion of approximately 6,811 pediatric hospitalizations with a primary ophthalmic diagnosis.
- Multivariable logistic regression models to assess factors associated with prolonged LOS (>4 days) and high cost (>$12,642).
Main Results:
- Prolonged LOS was associated with Medicaid insurance, non-trauma diagnoses, and urban teaching hospitals.
- High cost was linked to higher income levels, private insurance, Western US hospitals, and trauma diagnoses.
- Age influenced resource utilization, with children and young adults experiencing longer stays, and adolescents and young adults incurring higher costs.
Conclusions:
- Factors such as insurance status, diagnosis type, hospital characteristics, and patient demographics significantly impact resource utilization in pediatric ophthalmic hospitalizations.
- Targeted interventions addressing these factors may help reduce prolonged stays and high costs.
- Further research into resource utilization can enhance the quality of inpatient pediatric eye care.
Purpose:
To investigate factors associated with prolonged length of stay and high cost among pediatric hospitalizations with a primary ophthalmic diagnosis.
Methods:
This retrospective, cross-sectional study utilized data on pediatric admissions with a primary ophthalmic diagnosis from the multicenter 2016 Kids' Inpatient Database. Multivariable logistic regression models adjusted for demographic, hospital, and admission characteristics were used to evaluate factors associated with prolonged stay and high cost, defined as exceeding the 75th percentile (>4 days and $12,642, respectively).
Results:
An estimated 6,811 pediatric hospitalizations with a primary ophthalmic diagnosis in the United States in 2016 were included. On adjusted analysis, a prolonged length of stay was more likely with Medicaid (vs. private insurance, OR = 1.19, 95% CI: [1.02, 1.40], p = .03), non-trauma (vs. trauma, OR = 2.77, 95% CI: [2.12, 3.63], p < .001) and urban teaching hospitals (vs. rural, OR = 3.48, 95% CI: [1.04, 11.69], p = .04). A high cost of stay was more likely with higher income levels (Quartile 3 vs. 1, OR = 1.30, 95% CI: [1.02, 1.67], p = .04; Quartile 4 vs. 1, OR = 1.49, 95% CI: [1.08, 2.05], p = .02), private insurance (vs. Medicaid, OR = 1.26, 95% CI: [1.04, 1.53], p = .02), Western hospitals (vs. South, OR = 2.74, 95% CI: [1.83, 4.12], p < .001), and trauma (vs. non-trauma, OR = 3.29, 95% CI: [2.57, 4.21], p < .001). Children and young adults had higher odds of prolonged stay, while adolescents and young adults had higher odds of high cost compared to toddlers (p < .05 for all).
Conclusions:
Additional work addressing the factors associated with higher resource utilization may help promote the delivery of quality inpatient pediatric eye care.
Related Concept Videos
00:59Hospitals-II
Nurses that work in...
01:17Accessory Structures of the Eye
01:25Glaucoma: Overview
01:28Hospitals-I