Social Risk Factors Influence Pediatric Emergency Department Utilization and Hospitalizations.

OBJECTIVE: To characterize the association of children's social risk factors with total number of emergency department (ED) visits or hospitalization and time to first subsequent ED or hospitalization. STUDY DESIGN: This was a retrospective cohort study of patients seen at a general pediatric clinic between 2017 and 2021 with documented ≥1 social risk factors screened per visit. Negative binomial or Poisson regression modeled ED utilization and hospitalizations as functions of the total number of risk factors or each unique risk factor. Time-varying Cox models were used to evaluate differences between those who screened positive and those who screened negative, controlling for demographic and clinical covariates. RESULTS: Overall, 4674 patients (mean age, 6.6 years; 49% female; 64% Hispanic; 21% Black) were evaluated across a total of 20 927 visits. Children with risk factors had higher rates of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, failure to gain weight, asthma, and prematurity compared with children with no risk (all P < .01). Adjusted models show a positive association between increased total number of factors and ED utilization (incidence rate ratio [IRR], 1.18; 95% CI, 1.12-1.23) and hospitalizations (IRR, 1.36; 95% CI, 1.26-1.47). There were no associations between a positive screen and time to first ED visit (hazard ratio [HR], 0.95; 95% CI, 0.85-1.06; P = .36) or hospitalization (HR, 1.15; 95% CI, 0.84-1.59; P = .40). CONCLUSIONS: Social risk factors were associated with increased ED utilization and hospitalizations at the patient level but were not significantly associated with time to subsequent acute care use. Future research should evaluate the effect of focused interventions on health care utilization, such as those addressing food insecurity and transportation challenges.

Diagnosis and treatment of low back pain in the pediatric population.

Back pain in the pediatric population is a common complaint presenting to sports medicine clinics. There is a wide differential that should be considered, including mechanical, infectious, neoplastic, inflammatory, and amplified musculoskeletal pain. The history, pain quality, and examination are key components to help distinguish the etiologies of the pain and direct further evaluation. Laboratory investigations, including blood counts and inflammatory markers, can provide insight into the diagnosis. The HLA-B27 antigen can be helpful if a spondyloarthropathy is suspected. Imaging as clinically indicated typically begins with radiographs, and the use of MRI, CT, or bone scan can provide additional information. Proper diagnosis of back pain is important because prognosis and treatments are significantly different. We review the pertinent evaluation, differential diagnoses, and treatment of low back pain in the pediatric population.