The True Cost of Child Abuse at a Level 1 Pediatric Trauma Center
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Read the article on jpedsurg.org ↗Article · Nov 2019 · 1 min read
In brief
In brief
Retrospective cohort study (n=595 CPA patients, 2010-2018) at a level 1 pediatric trauma center compared healthcare resource utilization between child physical abuse victims and accidentally injured children using propensity-matched controls based on injury severity score. Study quantifies the differential costs, length of stay, and diagnostic workup burden associated with non-accidental trauma in the pediatric population.
Written by the GCMD Library team from the article.
Background
Child physical abuse (CPA) is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality. Children who sustain CPA consume significant healthcare resources. We hypothesized that the costs to care for children who sustain for children with CPA-type injuries are greater than the costs to care for children who sustain accidental injuries.
Methods
All confirmed CPA patients between the ages of 0 and 19 years old, who were admitted to a level 1 pediatric trauma center between January 2010 and September 2018, were retrospectively reviewed. We compared outcomes, including mortality, length of stay (LOS), diagnostic work-up, and overall cost using propensity matching between CPA and accidentally injured trauma patients. Patients were matched based on injury severity score (ISS).
Results
The CPA cohort (n = 595) was younger (1.31 +/− 1.96 years, p