Association of Child Opportunity Index with Outcomes in Pediatric Supraventricular Tachycardia

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Cardiology
• Social Determinants of Health
• Health Outcomes Research

Background:

• The Child Opportunity Index (COI) is a validated measure assessing social determinants of health using US Census data.
• Understanding the impact of socioeconomic factors on pediatric cardiovascular conditions like supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) is crucial for equitable care.
• Previous research has not extensively explored the relationship between COI and specific pediatric SVT management strategies or outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the association between the Child Opportunity Index (COI) and the management and outcomes of pediatric supraventricular tachycardia (SVT).
• Specifically, to investigate if COI influences the utilization of ablation procedures in pediatric SVT patients.
• To determine if socioeconomic factors, as measured by COI, correlate with SVT-related hospital admissions and treatment outcomes.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective, single-center study analyzed data from 306 pediatric SVT patients (January 2018-July 2023).
• Patients were categorized into low, moderate, and high COI groups based on their socioeconomic status.
• Statistical analyses, including Kruskal-Wallis, chi-square, Fisher's exact, logistic regression, and log-normal regression, were used to compare characteristics and assess outcomes.

Main Results:

• Patients in the low COI group had 3.88 times greater odds of having one or more SVT-related hospital admissions compared to those in the high COI group (p=0.010).
• The Child Opportunity Index was not significantly associated with the utilization of ablation procedures in pediatric SVT patients.
• No significant association was found between COI category and other primary outcomes, such as treatment success or recurrence rates.

Conclusions:

• Lower socioeconomic status, indicated by a lower COI, is associated with an increased likelihood of hospital admissions for pediatric SVT.
• Social determinants of health, while impacting resource utilization like hospital admissions, may have a limited effect on the utilization of advanced treatments such as ablation for pediatric SVT.
• Further research is needed to understand the complex interplay between socioeconomic factors and pediatric cardiovascular care to address disparities in health outcomes.