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Pediatric Optic Pathway Gliomas Resource Utilization and Prevalence in the OptumLabs Data Warehouse
Theo N Stoddard-Bennett1, Fei Yu, Samuel J Spiegel
1Department of Ophthalmology (TNS-B, FY, ALC, SLP), Stein Eye Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, California; Department of Biostatistics (FY), University of California Los Angeles, Fielding School of Public Health, Los Angeles, California; Department of Ophthalmology (SJS), Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California Irvine, Irvine, California; Department of Medicine Statistics Core (CFP), David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California; and Department of Ophthalmology (MXR), Wilmer Eye Institute, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland.
Pediatric optic pathway gliomas (OPGs) affect approximately 4.6-6.1 per 100k children, with most cases not requiring treatment. Annual eye exams like optical coherence tomography (OCT) and visual field (VF) testing are common for monitoring OPGs.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Oncology
- Ophthalmology
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Pediatric optic pathway gliomas (OPGs) survival rates have improved, but diagnostic and treatment data are scarce.
- This study addresses the limited understanding of OPG diagnosis and treatment in the current era.
- A big data analysis provides an epidemiological overview and examines eye care resource utilization in pediatric OPG patients.
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide an epidemiological overview of pediatric optic pathway gliomas (OPGs).
- To update understanding of diagnostic methods and treatment utilization for OPGs in children.
- To analyze eye care resource utilization in pediatric OPG patients using big data.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of the OptumLabs Data Warehouse (2016-2021) involving 9-11 million children.
- Examined demographic and clinical data, including computed tomography (CT), MRI, strabismus, and treatments (surgery, chemotherapy, radiation).
- Assessed yearly rates of optical coherence tomography (OCT) and visual field (VF) examinations.
Main Results:
- Estimated OPG prevalence of 4.6-6.1 per 100k children (0-17 years).
- 88.9% of patients had MRI, 15.3% had CT; OCT and VF testing rates were similar annually.
- 14.1% received chemotherapy, 6.1% had surgery/radiation, and 81.7% received no treatment.
Conclusions:
- This study offers updated OPG demographics and treatment burden insights for pediatric patients.
- OPGs affect approximately 0.005% of children equally in both sexes, with most cases not requiring active treatment.
- Annual OCT or VF claims indicate regular clinical monitoring for OPG patients, though the study is limited to commercially insured children.
