Racial/Ethnic Variability in Use of General Anesthesia for Pediatric Magnetic Resonance Imaging.

Area of Science:

• Pediatric radiology
• Health equity
• Medical imaging

Background:

• Children increasingly require diagnostic imaging, with some procedures necessitating general anesthesia (GA).
• The utilization of GA in pediatric magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans across different racial and ethnic groups remains largely unexamined.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate potential racial and ethnic disparities in the use of general anesthesia (GA) for children undergoing MRI scans.
• To determine if the likelihood of receiving GA during MRI differs among pediatric patients based on their race or ethnicity.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective cohort study analyzed data from pediatric patients (0-21 years) who underwent MRI scans between January 1, 2004, and May 31, 2019.
• The study sample was stratified into five age groups (0-1, 2-5, 6-11, 12-18, and 19-21 years) for separate analysis.
• Adjusted regression models were employed to compare GA use across racial and ethnic groups.

Main Results:

• Out of 457,314 pediatric MRI patients, 6.4% received GA.
• Asian children aged 0-1 and 2-5, Black children aged 2-5 and 6-11, and Hispanic children aged 0-1 were significantly more likely to receive GA compared to White children.
• These associations remained significant after adjusting for relevant factors in regression models.

Conclusions:

• Certain racial and ethnic minority groups, including Asian, Black, and Hispanic children, exhibit a higher likelihood of receiving general anesthesia for MRI scans compared to their White counterparts.
• The findings suggest potential racial and ethnic disparities in pediatric MRI care.
• Further research is essential to explore the underlying reasons for these observed differences and to ensure equitable care for all children.