Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Complications Following Pediatric Burn Injuries

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Medicine
• Public Health
• Health Disparities

Background:

• Pediatric burn injuries are a significant cause of morbidity.
• Existing literature indicates racial and ethnic disparities in healthcare access and outcomes.
• The extent of these disparities in pediatric burn complications requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the extent of racial and ethnic disparities in complications following pediatric burn injuries.
• To analyze clinical outcomes in relation to race and ethnicity among pediatric burn patients.

Main Methods:

• Utilized data from the American Burn Association's National Burn Repository (NBR) from 2010 to 2018.
• Included demographic data, burn mechanism and severity, complications, and clinical outcomes for 67,837 children (0-14 years).
• Employed 1:1 propensity score matching and logistic regression for analysis, comparing outcomes to the White population.

Main Results:

• Black patients exhibited higher mortality (aOR: 1.80) compared to White patients.
• Black and other racial groups were more likely to experience complications (aOR: 1.25 and 1.28, respectively).
• Black, Asian, and other patients faced increased risks of electrolyte/other complications and longer hospital stays.

Conclusions:

• Significant racial disparities exist in the clinical outcomes of pediatric burn patients.
• These findings underscore the need to investigate the causes of these health inequalities.
• Improved burn care strategies are essential to ensure equitable outcomes for all children.