Latent Class Analysis of Pediatric Bronchial Foreign Body Complications and Their Associated Factors

This study aimed to provide a theoretical basis for improving early diagnosis and complication prevention by exploring the latent classes of pediatric bronchial foreign body complications, analyzing their associated factors, and assessing the impact of different latent classes on healthcare resource utilization. Children who underwent bronchoscopic foreign body removal at the Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University from January 1, 2018 to July 31, 2023, were retrospectively reviewed. Latent class analysis was performed on complications with an incidence > 10% (including pneumonia, pulmonary emphysema, granulation tissue, bronchial stenosis, atelectasis, and pulmonary consolidation). Logistic regression was used to identify risk factors among different latent complication classes, and comparative analyses compared healthcare resource utilization. Among the 238 included children, complications with an incidence exceeding 10% were analyzed and clustered into four latent classes: the "Pneumonia Group" (C1, 40 cases, 16.8%), the "Pneumonia-Atelectasis Group" (C2, 33 cases, 13.9%), the "Emphysema-Granulation tissue Group" (C3, 106 cases, 44.5%), and the "Bronchial Stenosis-Granulation tissue Group" (C4, 59 cases, 24.8%). Results identified a history of foreign body aspiration, asymmetric breath sounds, C-reactive protein ≥ 8 mg/L, and neutrophil percentage as associated factors (p < 0.05). Healthcare resource utilization was significantly lower in groups C3 and C4 regarding hospital stay, treatment costs, and antibiotic days compared to C1 and C2 (p < 0.05). These latent classes offer theoretical support and practical reference for early diagnosis, complication prevention and diagnosis-related group-based payment optimization.