Understanding Complications of Sinusitis in Paediatric Patients With Autism: A KID Database Study

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Otolaryngology
• Neurodevelopmental Disorders
• Infectious Disease Complications

Background:

• Acute sinusitis is common in children, but complication risks may differ in those with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
• Understanding these risks is crucial for appropriate medical and surgical management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the incidence of orbital and neurological complications in pediatric patients with acute sinusitis, stratified by ASD diagnosis.
• To evaluate differences in surgical interventions, length of stay, and costs between pediatric patients with and without ASD.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective cohort study using the 2019 Kids' Inpatient Database (KID).
• Identified pediatric patients with acute sinusitis, comparing those with ASD to neurotypical peers.
• Utilized propensity score matching (PSM) to control for confounding variables.

Main Results:

• Patients with ASD experienced higher rates of seizures (26.4% vs. 6.3%) and orbital complications (4% vs. 1.4%) compared to controls.
• ASD patients were less likely to undergo maxillary sinus surgery (OR=0.46).
• No significant differences were observed in length of stay or hospital costs.

Conclusions:

• Pediatric patients with ASD hospitalized for acute sinusitis exhibit an elevated risk for neurological complications like seizures.
• These children are less likely to receive certain surgical interventions, suggesting potential disparities in care.
• Findings emphasize the need for tailored neurological monitoring and investigation into surgical decision-making for pediatric sinusitis patients with ASD.