Button Battery Ingestion: Exploring Socioeconomic Risk Factors

Examine the demographic and social determinants of health linked to pediatric esophageal foreign body removals, with an emphasis on button battery ingestions.

A retrospective chart review was performed on pediatric patients who underwent operative removal of a foreign body from the esophagus (Current Procedural Terminologies [CPTs] 43215, 43194).

The study was conducted across four hospitals from November 2010 to December 2023.

Data on patient demographics and social determinants of health were analyzed. Exclusions included nonaccidental ingestions, patients older than 18 years, and cases with missing social determinants of health data. The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) database was used to link patient data to socioeconomic indicators.

Of 825 cases, 50 were button battery ingestions. Age was comparable between button battery and nonbutton battery patients. Button battery patients were predominantly male. Socioeconomic analysis revealed that button battery patients were from households with higher median incomes, lower poverty rates, higher home values, and greater internet access. The incidence of button battery ingestion increased over the study period.

This study highlights significant demographic and socioeconomic differences in pediatric foreign body ingestions compared to button battery ingestions. Male gender and higher socioeconomic status were notable risk factors for button battery ingestion. These findings support the need for educational and preventive strategies to address the risks associated with button battery ingestion.