Hospital-Based Pediatric Quality Improvement Interventions and Health Disparities: A Scoping Review of the Literature.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Quality improvement (QI) has the potential to reduce health disparities through multiple mechanisms, including by standardizing care and addressing social barriers to health. National organizations require that hospital systems integrate equity into quality efforts, but effective approaches remain unclear. We aimed to examine the association of hospital-based pediatric QI interventions and racial and ethnic, language, and socioeconomic disparities in health outcomes. METHODS: Quantitative studies from January 1, 2000 to December 11, 2023 reporting the effects of pediatric hospital-based QI were selected from PubMed and Embase. Studies were excluded if outcomes were not stratified by race and ethnicity, language, or socioeconomic status. Studies were reviewed in duplicate for inclusion and by 1 author for data extraction. RESULTS: A total of 22 studies were included. Most studies (n = 19, 86%) revealed preexisting disparities, and 68% of those (n = 13) found disparities reductions post-intervention. Studies with disparity-focused objectives or interventions more commonly found reduced disparities than studies of general QI (85% vs 33%). Hospital-based process standardization was associated with reduced disparities in provider practices. Most interventions associated with reduced disparities in patient-facing outcomes involved community/ambulatory partnership. Limitations included potential exclusion of relevant studies, topic heterogenity, and risk of bias. CONCLUSIONS: Although the authors of few published hospital-based QI initiatives assessed their equity effect, intentionally designed QI studies were associated with reduced disparities. Interventions focused on care standardization may reduce disparities in care quality, although multilevel interventions are likely needed to affect the health care structures that influence more significant patient outcomes.

Epidemiology of brief resolved unexplained events and impact of clinical practice guidelines in general and pediatric emergency departments.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to describe the incidence of brief resolved unexplained events (BRUEs) and compare the impact of a national clinical practice guideline (CPG) on admission and diagnostic testing practices between general and pediatric emergency departments (EDs). METHODS: Using the Nationwide Emergency Department Sample for 2012-2019, we conducted a cross-sectional study of children <1 year of age with an International Classification of Diseases diagnostic code for BRUE. Population incidence rate was estimated using Centers for Disease Control and Prevention birth data. ED incidence rate was estimated for all ED encounters. We used interrupted time series to evaluate the associated impact of the CPG publication on the outcomes of ED disposition (discharge, admission, and transfer) and electrocardiogram (ECG) use. RESULTS: Of 133,972 encounters for BRUE, 80.0% occurred in general EDs. BRUE population incidence was 4.28 per 1000 live births and the annual incidence remained stable (p = 0.19). BRUE ED incidence was 5.06 per 1000 infant ED encounters (p = 0.14). The impact of the BRUE CPG on admission rates was limited to pediatric EDs (level shift -23.3%, p = 0.002). Transfers from general EDs did not change with the CPG (level shift 2.2%, p = 0.17). After the CPG was published, ECGs increased by 13.7% in pediatric EDs (p = 0.005) but did not change in general EDs (level shift -0.2%, p = 0.82). CONCLUSIONS: BRUEs remain a common pediatric problem at a population level and in EDs. Although a disproportionate number of infants present to general EDs, there is differential uptake of the CPG recommendations between pediatric and general EDs. These findings may support quality improvement opportunities aimed at improving care for these infants and decreasing unnecessary hospital admissions or transfers.

Disparities in Racial, Ethnic, and Payer Groups for Pediatric Safety Events in US Hospitals.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Health care disparities are pervasive, but little is known about disparities in pediatric safety. We analyzed a national sample of hospitalizations to identify disparities in safety events. METHODS: In this population-based, retrospective cohort study of the 2019 Kids' Inpatient Database, independent variables were race, ethnicity, and payer. Outcomes were Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality pediatric safety indicators (PDIs). Risk-adjusted odds ratios were calculated using white and private payer reference groups. Differences by payer were evaluated by stratifying race and ethnicity. RESULTS: Race and ethnicity of the 5 243 750 discharged patients were white, 46%; Hispanic, 19%; Black, 15%; missing, 8%; other race/multiracial, 7%, Asian American/Pacific Islander, 5%; and Native American, 1%. PDI rates (per 10 000 discharges) were 331.4 for neonatal blood stream infection, 267.5 for postoperative respiratory failure, 114.9 for postoperative sepsis, 29.5 for postoperative hemorrhage/hematoma, 5.6 for central-line blood stream infection, 3.5 for accidental puncture/laceration, and 0.7 for iatrogenic pneumothorax. Compared with white patients, Black and Hispanic patients had significantly greater odds in 5 of 7 PDIs; the largest disparities occurred in postoperative sepsis (adjusted odds ratio, 1.55 [1.38-1.73]) for Black patients and postoperative respiratory failure (adjusted odds ratio, 1.34 [1.21-1.49]) for Hispanic patients. Compared with privately insured patients, Medicaid-covered patients had significantly greater odds in 4 of 7 PDIs; the largest disparity occurred in postoperative sepsis (adjusted odds ratios, 1.45 [1.33-1.59]). Stratified analyses demonstrated persistent disparities by race and ethnicity, even among privately insured children. CONCLUSIONS: Disparities in safety events were identified for Black and Hispanic children, indicating a need for targeted interventions to improve patient safety in the hospital.

Learning From a National Quality Improvement Collaborative for Brief Resolved Unexplained Events.

OBJECTIVE: In 2016, the American Academy of Pediatrics published the Brief Resolved Unexplained Event (BRUE) Clinical Practice Guideline (CPG). A multicenter quality improvement (QI) collaborative aimed to improve CPG adherence. METHODS: A QI collaborative of 15 hospitals aimed to improve testing adherence, the hospitalization of lower-risk infants, the correct use of diagnostic criteria, and risk classification. Interventions included CPG education, documentation practices, clinical pathways, and electronic medical record integration. By using medical record review, care of emergency department (ED) and inpatient patients meeting BRUE criteria was displayed via control or run charts for 3 time periods: pre-CPG publication (October 2015 to June 2016), post-CPG publication (July 2016 to September 2018), and collaborative (April 2019 to June 2020). Collaborative learning was used to identify and mitigate barriers to iterative improvement. RESULTS: A total of 1756 infants met BRUE criteria. After CPG publication, testing adherence improved from 56% to 64% and hospitalization decreased from 49% to 27% for lower-risk infants, but additional improvements were not demonstrated during the collaborative period. During the collaborative period, correct risk classification for hospitalized infants improved from 26% to 49% (ED) and 15% to 33% (inpatient) and the documentation of BRUE risk factors for hospitalized infants improved from 84% to 91% (ED). CONCLUSIONS: A national BRUE QI collaborative enhanced BRUE-related hospital outcomes and processes. Sites did not improve testing and hospitalization beyond the gains made after CPG publication, but they did shift the BRUE definition and risk classification. The incorporation of caregiver perspectives and the use of shared decision-making tools may further improve care.

Diagnostic testing for evaluation of brief resolved unexplained events.

BACKGROUND: Since the publication of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) clinical practice guideline for brief resolved unexplained events (BRUEs), a few small, single-center studies have suggested low yield of diagnostic testing in infants presenting with such an event. We conducted this large retrospective multicenter study to determine the role of diagnostic testing in leading to a confirmatory diagnosis in BRUE patients. METHODS: Secondary analysis from a large multicenter cohort derived from 15 hospitals participating in the BRUE Quality Improvement and Research Collaborative. The study subjects were infants < 1 year of age presenting with a BRUE to the emergency departments (EDs) of these hospitals between October 1, 2015, and September 30, 2018. Potential BRUE cases were identified using a validated algorithm that relies on administrative data. Chart review was conducted to confirm study inclusion/exclusion, AAP risk criteria, final diagnosis, and contribution of test results. Findings were stratified by ED or hospital discharge and AAP risk criteria. For each patient, we identified whether any diagnostic test contributed to the final diagnosis. We distinguished true (contributory) results from false-positive results. RESULTS: Of 2036 patients meeting study criteria, 63.2% were hospitalized, 87.1% qualified as AAP higher risk, and 45.3% received an explanatory diagnosis. Overall, a laboratory test, imaging, or an ancillary test supported the final diagnosis in 3.2% (65/2036, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.7%-4.4%) of patients. Out of 5163 diagnostic tests overall, 1.1% (33/2897, 95% CI 0.8%-1.5%) laboratory tests and 1.5% (33/2266, 95% CI 1.0%-1.9%) of imaging and ancillary studies contributed to a diagnosis. Although 861 electrocardiograms were performed, no new cardiac diagnoses were identified during the index visit. CONCLUSIONS: Diagnostic testing to explain BRUE including for those with AAP higher risk criteria is low yield and rarely contributes to an explanation. Future research is needed to evaluate the role of testing in more specific, at-risk populations.

Diagnostic testing for and detection of physical abuse in infants with brief resolved unexplained events.

BACKGROUND: A Brief Resolved Unexplained Event (BRUE) can be a sign of occult physical abuse. OBJECTIVES: To identify rates of diagnostic testing able to detect physical abuse (head imaging, skeletal survey, and liver transaminases) at BRUE presentation. The secondary objective was to estimate the rate of physical abuse diagnosed at initial BRUE presentation through 1 year of age. PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING: Infants who presented with a BRUE at one of 15 academic or community hospitals were followed from initial BRUE presentation until 1 year of age for BRUE recurrence or revisits. METHODS: This study was part of the BRUE Research and Quality Improvement Network, a multicenter retrospective cohort examining infants with BRUE. Generalized estimating equations assessed associations with performance of diagnostic testing (adjusted odds ratio (aOR)). RESULTS: Of the 2036 infants presenting with a BRUE, 6.2 % underwent head imaging, 7.0 % skeletal survey, and 12.1 % liver transaminases. Infants were more likely to undergo skeletal survey if there were physical examination findings concerning for trauma (aOR 8.23, 95 % CI [1.92, 35.24], p < 0.005) or concerning social history (aOR 1.89, 95 % CI [1.13, 3.16], p = 0.015). There were 7 (0.3 %) infants diagnosed with physical abuse: one at BRUE presentation, one <3 days after BRUE presentation, and five >30 days after BRUE presentation. CONCLUSION: There were low rates of diagnostic testing and physical abuse identified in infants presenting with BRUE. Further study including standardized testing protocols is warranted to identify physical abuse in infants presenting with a BRUE.

Detecting Health Care Disparities and the Problem With P <0.05.

Detecting disparities in health care requires special statistical consideration to assess meaningful differences in exposure, process, or outcome between 2 or more groups on the basis of race, ethnicity, or language. Statistical tests with resulting P values need to be contextualized and thresholds of significance selected carefully before drawing conclusions.

Canadian infants presenting with Brief Resolved Unexplained Events (BRUEs) and validation of clinical prediction rules for risk stratification: a protocol for a multicentre, retrospective cohort study.

INTRODUCTION: Brief Resolved Unexplained Events (BRUEs) are a common presentation among infants. While most of these events are benign and self-limited, guidelines published by the American Academy of Pediatrics inaccurately identify many patients as higher-risk of a serious underlying aetiology (positive predictive value 5%). Recently, new clinical prediction rules have been derived to more accurately stratify patients. This data were however geographically limited to the USA, with no large studies to date assessing the BRUE population in a different healthcare setting. The study's aim is to describe the clinical management and outcomes of infants presenting to Canadian hospitals with BRUEs and to externally validate the BRUE clinical prediction rules in identified cases. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: This is a multicentre retrospective study, conducted within the Canadian Paediatric Inpatient Research Network (PIRN). Infants (<1 year) presenting with a BRUE at one of 11 Canadian paediatric centres between 1 January 2017 and 31 December 2021 will be included. Eligible patients will be identified using diagnostic codes.The primary outcome will be the presence of a serious underlying illness. Secondary outcomes will include BRUE recurrence and length of hospital stay. We will describe the rates of hospital admissions and whether hospitalisation was associated with an earlier diagnosis or treatment. Variation across Canadian hospitals will be assessed using intraclass correlation coefficient. To validate the newly developed clinical prediction rule, measures of goodness of fit will be evaluated. For this validation, a sample size of 1182 is required to provide a power of 80% to detect patients with a serious underlying illness with a significance level of 5%. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: Ethics approval has been granted by the UBC Children's and Women's Research Board (H21-02357). The results of this study will be disseminated as peer-reviewed manuscripts and presentations at national and international conferences.

Impact of the AAP Guideline on Management of Brief Resolved Unexplained Events.

OBJECTIVES: In May 2016, the American Academy of Pediatrics published a clinical practice guideline (CPG) defining apparent life-threatening events (ALTEs) as brief resolved unexplained events (BRUEs) and recommending risk-based management. We analyzed the association of CPG publication on admission rate, diagnostic testing, treatment, cost, length of stay (LOS), and revisits in patients with BRUE. METHODS: Using the Pediatric Health Information Systems database, we studied patients discharged from the hospital with a diagnosis of ALTE/BRUE from January 2012 to December 2019. We grouped encounters into 2 time cohorts on the basis of discharge date: preguideline (January 2012-January 2016) and postguideline (July 2016-December 2019). We used interrupted time series to test if the CPG publication was associated with level change and change in slope for each metric. RESULTS: The study included 27 941 hospitalizations for ALTE/BRUE from 36 hospitals. There was an early decrease in 12 diagnostic tests that the CPG strongly recommended against. There was a positive change in the use of electrocardiogram (+3.5%, P < .001), which is recommended by CPG. There was a significant reduction in admissions (-13.7%, P < .001), utilization of medications (-8.3%, P < .001), cost (-$1146.8, P < .001), and LOS (-0.2 days, P < .001), without a change in the revisit rates. In the postguideline period, there were an estimated 2678 admissions avoided out of 12 508 encounters. CONCLUSIONS: Publication of the American Academy of Pediatrics BRUE CPG was associated with substantial reductions in testing, utilization of medications, admission rates, cost, and LOS, without a change in the revisit rates.

Risk Prediction After a Brief Resolved Unexplained Event.

OBJECTIVES: Only 4% of brief resolved unexplained events (BRUE) are caused by a serious underlying illness. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) guidelines do not distinguish patients who would benefit from further investigation and hospitalization. We aimed to derive and validate a clinical decision rule for predicting the risk of a serious underlying diagnosis or event recurrence. METHODS: We retrospectively identified infants presenting with a BRUE to 15 children's hospitals (2015-2020). We used logistic regression in a split-sample to derive and validate a risk prediction model. RESULTS: Of 3283 eligible patients, 565 (17.2%) had a serious underlying diagnosis (n = 150) or a recurrent event (n = 469). The AAP's higher-risk criteria were met in 91.5% (n = 3005) and predicted a serious diagnosis with 95.3% sensitivity, 8.6% specificity, and an area under the curve of 0.52 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.47-0.57). A derived model based on age, previous events, and abnormal medical history demonstrated an area under the curve of 0.64 (95%CI: 0.59-0.70). In contrast to the AAP criteria, patients >60 days were more likely to have a serious underlying diagnosis (odds ratio:1.43, 95%CI: 1.03-1.98, P = .03). CONCLUSIONS: Most infants presenting with a BRUE do not have a serious underlying pathology requiring prompt diagnosis. We derived 2 models to predict the risk of a serious diagnosis and event recurrence. A decision support tool based on this model may aid clinicians and caregivers in the discussion on the benefit of diagnostic testing and hospitalization (https://www.mdcalc.com/calc/10400/brief-resolved-unexplained-events-2.0-brue-2.0-criteria-infants).

Associations Between Weight and Lower Respiratory Tract Disease Outcomes in Hospitalized Children.

OBJECTIVE: To identify associations between weight status and clinical outcomes in children with lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI) or asthma requiring hospitalization. METHODS: We performed a retrospective cohort study of 2 to 17 year old children hospitalized for LRTI and/or asthma from 2009 to 2019 using electronic health record data from the PEDSnet clinical research network. Children <2 years, those with medical complexity, and those without a calculable BMI were excluded. Children were classified as having underweight, normal weight, overweight, or class 1, 2, or 3 obesity based on Body Mass Index percentile for age and sex. Primary outcomes were need for positive pressure respiratory support and ICU admission. Subgroup analyses were performed for children with a primary diagnosis of asthma. Outcomes were modeled with mixed-effects multivariable logistic regression incorporating age, sex, and payer as fixed effects. RESULTS: We identified 65 132 hospitalizations; 6.7% with underweight, 57.8% normal weight, 14.6% overweight, 13.2% class 1 obesity, 5.0% class 2 obesity, and 2.8% class 3 obesity. Overweight and obesity were associated with positive pressure respiratory support (class 3 obesity versus normal weight odds ratio [OR] 1.62 [1.38-1.89]) and ICU admission (class 3 obesity versus normal weight OR 1.26 [1.12-1.42]), with significant associations for all categories of overweight and obesity. Underweight was also associated with positive pressure respiratory support (OR 1.39 [1.24-1.56]) and ICU admission (1.40 [1.30-1.52]). CONCLUSIONS: Both underweight and overweight or obesity are associated with increased severity of LRTI or asthma in hospitalized children.

Use of Race in Pediatric Clinical Practice Guidelines: A Systematic Review.

Importance: National clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) guide medical practice. The use of race in CPGs has the potential to positively or negatively affect structural racism and health inequities. Objective: To review the use of race in published pediatric CPGs. Evidence Review: A literature search of PubMed, Medscape, Emergency Care Research Institute Guidelines Trust, and MetaLib.gov was performed for English-language clinical guidelines addressing patients younger than 19 years of age from January 1, 2016, to April 30, 2021. The study team systematically identified and evaluated all articles that used race and ethnicity terms and then used a critical race theory framework to classify each use according to the potential to either positively or negatively affect structural racism and racial inequities in health care. Findings: Of 414 identified pediatric clinical practice guidelines, 126 (30%) met criteria for full review because of the use of race or ethnicity terms and 288 (70%) did not use race or ethnicity terms. The use of a race term occurred 175 times in either background, clinical recommendations, or future directions. A use of race with a potential negative effect occurred 87 times (49.7%) across 73 CPGs and a positive effect 50 times (28.6%) across 45 CPGs. Conclusions and Relevance: In this systematic review of US-based pediatric CPGs, race was frequently used in ways that could negatively affect health care inequities. Many opportunities exist for national medical organizations to improve the use of race in CPGs to positively affect health care, particularly for racial and ethnic minoritized communities.

Preventing Home Medication Administration Errors.

Medication administration errors that take place in the home are common, especially when liquid preparations are used and complex medication schedules with multiple medications are involved; children with chronic conditions are disproportionately affected. Parents and other caregivers with low health literacy and/or limited English proficiency are at higher risk for making errors in administering medications to children in their care. Recommended strategies to reduce home medication errors relate to provider prescribing practices; health literacy-informed verbal counseling strategies (eg, teachback and showback) and written patient education materials (eg, pictographic information) for patients and/or caregivers across settings (inpatient, outpatient, emergency care, pharmacy); dosing-tool provision for liquid medication measurement; review of medication lists with patients and/or caregivers (medication reconciliation) that includes prescription and over-the-counter medications, as well as vitamins and supplements; leveraging the medical home; engaging adolescents and their adult caregivers; training of providers; safe disposal of medications; regulations related to medication dosing tools, labeling, packaging, and informational materials; use of electronic health records and other technologies; and research to identify novel ways to support safe home medication administration.

Weight Status and Risk of Inpatient Admission for Children With Lower Respiratory Tract Disease.

OBJECTIVES: To identify associations between weight category and hospital admission for lower respiratory tract disease (LRTD), defined as asthma, community-acquired pneumonia, viral pneumonia, or bronchiolitis, among children evaluated in pediatric emergency departments (PEDs). METHODS: We performed a retrospective cohort study of children 2 to <18 years of age evaluated in the PED at 6 children's hospitals within the PEDSnet clinical research network from 2009 to 2019. BMI percentile of children was classified as underweight, healthy weight, overweight, and class 1, 2, or 3 obesity. Children with complex chronic conditions were excluded. Mixed-effects multivariable logistic regression was used to assess associations between BMI categories and hospitalization or 7- and 30-day PED revisits, adjusted for covariates (age, sex, race and ethnicity, and payer). RESULTS: Among 107 446 children with 218 180 PED evaluations for LRTD, 4.5% had underweight, 56.4% had healthy normal weight, 16.1% had overweight, 14.6% had class 1 obesity, 5.5% had class 2 obesity, and 3.0% had class 3 obesity. Underweight was associated with increased risk of hospital admission compared with normal weight (odds ratio [OR] 1.76; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.69-1.84). Overweight (OR 0.87; 95% CI 0.85-0.90), class 1 obesity (OR 0.88; 95% CI 0.85-0.91), and class 2 obesity (OR 0.91; 95% CI 0.87-0.96) had negative associations with hospital admission. Class 1 and class 2, but not class 3, obesity had small positive associations with 7- and 30-day PED revisits. CONCLUSIONS: We found an inverse relationship between patient weight category and risk for hospital admission in children evaluated in the PED for LRTD.

Explanatory Diagnoses Following Hospitalization for a Brief Resolved Unexplained Event.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Most young infants presenting to the emergency department (ED) with a brief resolved unexplained event (BRUE) are hospitalized. We sought to determine the rate of explanatory diagnosis after hospitalization for a BRUE. METHODS: This was a multicenter retrospective cohort study of infants hospitalized with a BRUE after an ED visit between October 1, 2015, and September 30, 2018. We included infants without an explanatory diagnosis at admission. We determined the proportion of patients with an explanatory diagnosis at the time of hospital discharge and whether diagnostic testing, consultation, or observed events occurring during hospitalization were associated with identification of an explanatory diagnosis. RESULTS: Among 980 infants hospitalized after an ED visit for a BRUE without an explanatory diagnosis at admission, 363 (37.0%) had an explanatory diagnosis identified during hospitalization. In 805 (82.1%) infants, diagnostic testing, specialty consultations, and observed events did not contribute to an explanatory diagnosis, and, in 175 (17.9%) infants, they contributed to the explanatory diagnosis (7.0%, 10.0%, and 7.0%, respectively). A total of 15 infants had a serious diagnosis (4.1% of explanatory diagnoses; 1.5% of all infants hospitalized with a BRUE), the most common being seizure and infantile spasms, occurring in 4 patients. CONCLUSIONS: Most infants hospitalized with a BRUE did not receive an explanation during the hospitalization, and a majority of diagnoses were benign or self-limited conditions. More research is needed to identify which infants with a BRUE are most likely to benefit from hospitalization for determining the etiology of the event.

Obesity and Health-Related Quality of Life in Children Hospitalized for Acute Respiratory Illness.

OBJECTIVES: Obesity has rapidly become a major problem for children that has adverse effects on respiratory health. We sought to assess the impact of obesity on health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and hospital outcomes for children hospitalized with asthma or pneumonia. METHODS: In this multicenter prospective cohort study, we evaluated children (aged 2-16 years) hospitalized with an acute asthma exacerbation or pneumonia between July 1, 2014, and June 30, 2016. Subjects or their family completed surveys for child HRQOL (PedsQL Physical Functioning and Psychosocial Functioning Scales, with scores ranging from 0 to 100) on hospital presentation and 2-6 weeks after discharge. BMI categories were defined as normal weight, overweight, and obesity on the basis of BMI percentiles for age and sex per national guidelines. Multivariable regression models were used to examine associations between BMI category and HRQOL, length of stay, and 30-day reuse. RESULTS: Among 716 children, 82 (11.4%) were classified as having overweight and 138 (19.3%) as having obesity. For children hospitalized with asthma or pneumonia, obesity was not associated with worse HRQOL at presentation or 2-6 weeks after discharge, hospital length of stay, or 30-day reuse. CONCLUSIONS: Nearly 1 in 3 children seen in the hospital for an acute asthma exacerbation or pneumonia had overweight or obesity; however, among the population of children in our study, obesity alone does not appear to be associated with worse HRQOL or hospital outcomes.

Accuracy of Diagnostic Codes for Identifying Brief Resolved Unexplained Events.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision (ICD-10) coding strategies for the identification of patients with a brief resolved unexplained event (BRUE). METHODS: Multicenter retrospective cohort study, including patients aged <1 year with an emergency department (ED) visit between October 1, 2015, and September 30, 2018, and an ICD-10 code for the following: (1) BRUE; (2) characteristics of BRUE; (3) serious underlying diagnoses presenting as a BRUE; and (4) nonserious diagnoses presenting as a BRUE. Sixteen algorithms were developed by using various combinations of these 4 groups of ICD-10 codes. Manual chart review was used to assess the performance of these ICD-10 algorithms for the identification of (1) patients presenting to an ED who met the American Academy of Pediatrics clinical definition for a BRUE and (2) the subset of these patients discharged from the ED or hospital without an explanation for the BRUE. RESULTS: Of 4512 records reviewed, 1646 (36.5%) of these patients met the American Academy of Pediatrics criteria for BRUE on ED presentation, 1016 (61.7%) were hospitalized, and 959 (58.3%) had no explanation on discharge. Among ED discharges, the BRUE ICD-10 code alone was optimal for case ascertainment (sensitivity: 89.8% to 92.8%; positive predictive value: 51.7% to 72.0%). For hospitalized patients, ICD-10 codes related to the clinical characteristics of BRUE are preferred (specificity 93.2%, positive predictive value 32.7% to 46.3%). CONCLUSIONS: The BRUE ICD-10 code and/or the diagnostic codes for the characteristics of BRUE are recommended, but the choice between approaches depends on the investigative purpose and the specific BRUE population and setting of interest.

Risk Factors and Outcomes After a Brief Resolved Unexplained Event: A Multicenter Study.

BACKGROUND: The accuracy of the risk criteria for brief resolved unexplained events (BRUEs) from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) is unknown. We sought to evaluate if AAP risk criteria and event characteristics predict BRUE outcomes. METHODS: This retrospective cohort included infants <1 year of age evaluated in the emergency departments (EDs) of 15 pediatric and community hospitals for a BRUE between October 1, 2015, and September 30, 2018. A multivariable regression model was used to evaluate the association of AAP risk factors and event characteristics with risk for event recurrence, revisits, and serious diagnoses explaining the BRUE. RESULTS: Of 2036 patients presenting with a BRUE, 87% had at least 1 AAP higher-risk factor. Revisits occurred in 6.9% of ED and 10.7% of hospital discharges. A serious diagnosis was made in 4.0% (82) of cases; 45% (37) of these diagnoses were identified after the index visit. The most common serious diagnoses included seizures (1.1% [23]) and airway abnormalities (0.64% [13]). Risk is increased for a serious underlying diagnosis for patients discharged from the ED with a history of a similar event, an event duration >1 minute, an abnormal medical history, and an altered responsiveness (P < .05). AAP risk criteria for all outcomes had a negative predictive value of 90% and a positive predictive value of 23%. CONCLUSIONS: AAP BRUE risk criteria are used to accurately identify patients at low risk for event recurrence, readmission, and a serious underlying diagnosis; however, their use results in the inaccurate identification of many patients as higher risk. This is likely because many AAP risk factors, such as age, are not associated with these outcomes.

Riga-Fede Disease: A Case of Sublingual Trauma Not Associated With Abuse.

OBJECTIVES: The following case presents a pediatric patient with Riga-Fede disease (RFD), a rare disorder in children under 2 years of age characterized by sublingual ulceration of the tongue due to trauma from repeated rubbing against the primary teeth. Riga-Fede disease is well reported in dental literature but is relatively unknown to the general pediatric community. It can be confused with nonaccidental trauma (NAT) from forced feeding or other abusive trauma because it presents with injury of oral structures including the sublingual frenulum and often results in problems with growth. This case highlights the importance for physicians to recognize RFD as a source of isolated oral injury that is distinct from NAT. Although approximately 35 cases of RFD have been reported in the literature, this is the first case to describe the process of distinguishing this disease from child abuse. METHODS: We present a case of an 8-month-old female infant who presented with extensive injury of her ventral tongue from RFD who underwent a full workup for NAT. We review the literature for guidance on diagnosing RFD and discuss how to distinguish it from abuse. RESULTS: Infants with characteristic ulceration of the ventral tongue opposing new teeth and with no other medical, social, or developmental concerns do not need to undergo further workup. Clinical examination and thorough history are sufficient to make the diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS: Traumatic intraoral injury in nonmobile children is highly concerning for child abuse. However, RFD is a well described cause of sublingual ulceration in infants that is not associated with abuse.