Trends in the Epidemiology of Pediatric Acute and Chronic Cholecystitis-Related Admissions in the USA: A Nationwide Emergency Department and Inpatient Sample Study. (December 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Chandra, Suvrat; Friesen, Craig; Attard, Thomas Mario
• Is Part Of: Journal of investigative medicine. Volume 67:Number 8(2019)
• Page Start: 1155
• Page End: 1159
• Publication Date: 2019-12
• Subjects: hospital charges -- infant -- newborn -- diseases -- inpatients -- intestinal diseases; Clinical medicine -- Periodicals; Medicine -- Research -- Periodicals; Medicine; Research -- United States; Clinical medicine; Medicine -- Research; Periodicals; 616.075
• DOI: 10.1136/jim-2018-000948
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1081-5589

Abstract

Acute and chronic cholecystitis can be related to gallstone disease, although in childhood acalculous cholecystitis may be the most frequent form. Chronic acalculous cholecystitis is a subtype of pediatric chronic abdominal pain. The overall incidence of cholecystitis in children appears to be increasing. Studies suggest a widely variable but predominant female, Caucasian and late adolescent preponderance to the affected population. The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP), a national emergency department, pediatric and adult inpatient admission coding-based database was accessed for the population-weighted demographic characteristics related to documented principal diagnoses (International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification) of acute and chronic cholecystitis; pediatric and adult age range 2006–2012 (emergency department), 1997–2012 (inpatient service). ED-derived data show pediatric admissions at the smallest age category (1%), averaging 3.7/100 000 persons; discharges were highest in the 15–17 age range. Inpatient admission was more likely in older (93% >10 years), female (F:M 3.7:1) children, and patients from lower median household income residences. Over the study period, there was a significant relative increase in males. Mean length of inpatient stay was 3.2 days, tended to be shorter in female and older patients; this pattern was reflected in the overall hospital charges which rose threefold over the study period (1997–2012). Our study establishes the gender distribution of cholecystitis-related diagnoses and as yet poorly understood admission discrepancies based on gender and socioeconomic status. Length of admission has overall decreased but costs have risen threefold over the study period.