Document Type

Article

Publication Date

8-1-2016

Identifier

DOI: 10.1542/hpeds.2015-0248

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: Risk factors for failure to thrive (FTT) readmissions, including medical complexity, have not been described. We sought to characterize children hospitalized for FTT and identify risk factors associated with FTT-specific readmissions during the current era of increasing medical complexity among hospitalized children.

METHODS: This retrospective cohort study used the Pediatric Health Information System database of 43 freestanding children's hospitals across the United States. The cohort included childrenmodels, we assessed the association of demographic, clinical, diagnostic, and treatment characteristics with FTT-specific readmission.

RESULTS: There were 10 499 FTT hospitalizations, with 14.1% being readmitted for FTT within 3 years and 4.8% within 30 days. Median time to readmission was 66 days (interquartile range, 19-194 days). Nearly one-half of children (40.8%) had at least 1 complex chronic condition (CCC), with 16.4% having ≥2 CCCs. After multivariable modeling, increasing age at admission, median household income in the lowest quartile (adjusted hazard ratio, 1.23 [95% confidence interval, 1.05-1.44]), and prematurity-related CCC (adjusted hazard ratio, 1.46 [95% confidence interval, 1.16-1.86]) remained significantly associated with readmission.

CONCLUSIONS: Nearly one-half of children hospitalized for FTT had a CCC, and a majority of FTT-specific readmissions occurred after the traditional 30-day window. Children with prematurity-related conditions and low median household income represent unique populations at risk for FTT readmissions.

Journal Title

Hosp Pediatr

Volume

6

Issue

8

First Page

468

Last Page

475

MeSH Keywords

Chronic Disease; Comorbidity; Failure to Thrive; Female; Hospitals, Pediatric; Humans; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Male; Patient Readmission; Poverty; Premature Birth; Proportional Hazards Models; Retrospective Studies; Risk Assessment; Risk Factors; United States

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