Pediatric Neuroinflammatory Disorders: Patterns of Hospital Utilization and Population Burden

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Neurology
• Health Economics
• Healthcare Management

Background:

• Pediatric neuroinflammatory disorders (NIDs) represent a significant, yet under-quantified, healthcare burden.
• Existing data lacks comprehensive cost estimates for NID-related hospitalizations in children.
• These conditions are suspected to disproportionately impact healthcare expenditures.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the economic and resource utilization burden of pediatric hospitalizations for NIDs.
• To identify key drivers of inpatient resource use in pediatric NID cases.
• To analyze cost, length of stay, and intensive care unit (ICU) utilization.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of Texas hospital administrative data (2016-2023).
• Inclusion of pediatric hospitalizations for specific NIDs: acute disseminated encephalomyelitis, encephalitis/encephalomyelitis (E/EM), multiple sclerosis/neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders, other demyelinating disorders, acute transverse myelitis, and other myelitis.
• Conversion of charges to costs using hospital-specific cost-to-charge ratios, inflated to 2023 values; statistical modeling for high-cost, long-LOS, and ICU admissions.

Main Results:

• A total of 2155 pediatric NID hospitalizations were identified, with E/EM being the most frequent diagnosis.
• Median hospitalization cost was $31,365.49, with a median length of stay (LOS) of 6 days.
• Over half (59.1%) of hospitalizations involved ICU admission, significantly increasing costs; diagnostic group predicted high-cost, long-LOS, and ICU stays.

Conclusions:

• Pediatric NIDs impose a substantial healthcare burden, characterized by prolonged hospital stays, intensive care needs, and elevated costs.
• Findings confirm clinical observations regarding the resource-intensive nature of these conditions.
• The study underscores the need for better understanding and management of NIDs in pediatric populations.