Childhood obesity and in-hospital asthma resource utilization.

Creator(s)

Jessica L. Bettenhausen, Children's Mercy HospitalFollow
Henry T. Puls, Children's Mercy HospitalFollow
Mary Ann Queen, Children's Mercy HospitalFollow
Christina Peacock
Stephanie Burrus, Children's Mercy HospitalFollow
Christopher Miller, Children's Mercy HospitalFollow
Ashley Daly, Children's Mercy HospitalFollow
Jeffrey D. Colvin, Children's Mercy HospitalFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

3-1-2015

Identifier

DOI: 10.1002/jhm.2296

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To examine the relationship between pediatric obesity and inpatient length of stay (LOS), resource utilization, readmission rates, and total billed charges for in-hospital status asthmaticus.

DESIGN/METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study of patients 5 to 17 years old hospitalized with status asthmaticus to 1 free-standing children's hospital system over 12 months. Only hospitalized patients initially treated in the hospital's emergency department were included to ensure all therapies/charges were examined. Patients with complex chronic conditions, pneumonia, or lacking recorded body mass index (BMI) were excluded. The primary exposure was BMI percentile for age. The primary outcome was LOS (in hours). Secondary outcomes were 90-day readmission rate, billed charges, and resource utilization: number of albuterol treatments, chest radiographs, intravenous fluids, intravenous or intramuscular steroids, and intensive care unit admission. Bivariate, adjusted Poisson and logistic regression model analyses were performed.

RESULTS: Five hundred eighteen patients met inclusion criteria. Most had a normal BMI (59.7%); 36.7% were overweight or obese. LOS, readmissions, and resource utilization outcomes were not associated with BMI category on bivariate analyses. After adjustment for demographic/clinical characteristics, LOS decreased by 2% for each decile increase in BMI percentile for age. BMI percentile for age was not associated with billed charges, readmissions, or other measures of resource utilization.

CONCLUSIONS: Although BMI decile for age is inversely associated with LOS for in-hospital pediatric status asthmaticus, the effect likely is not clinically meaningful.

Journal Title

J Hosp Med

Volume

10

Issue

3

First Page

160

Last Page

164

MeSH Keywords

Adolescent; Asthma; Body Mass Index; Child; Child, Preschool; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Health Resources; Hospitalization; Humans; Male; Pediatric Obesity; Retrospective Studies

Recommended Citation

Bettenhausen, J. L., Puls, H. T., Queen, M., Peacock, C., Burrus, S., Miller, C., Daly, A., Colvin, J. D. Childhood obesity and in-hospital asthma resource utilization. J Hosp Med 10, 160-164 (2015).