Pediatric pneumonia: An analysis of cost & outcome influencers in the United States

BACKGROUND: Pediatric pneumonia is a significant cause of inpatient care in the United States. Significant resource utilization and the high cost of care necessitate careful evaluation, especially with continuously decreasing financial resources. Several studies have evaluated subsets and regional impact of these diagnoses, but only a few have evaluated these on a national level. METHODS: This retrospective analysis utilized the 2009–2012 HCUP KID Inpatient Dataset to evaluate the relationship between pneumonia diagnosis and factors affecting cost for patients between 0 and 21. One hundred forty-five thousand one hundred forty-six patients’ charges with primary pneumonia diagnosis were evaluated based on LOS, chronic conditions, severity, mortality and region. RESULTS: Majority of cases of diagnosis were of unspecified organism: 11,4811 (78%) of the total population. RSV-related pneumonia diagnosis presented second with a total of 8,156 (5.5%). Charges for pneumonia in the Emergency Department (ER) were about $13,104 and non-ER presentation at $10,238. LOS affected total charge and mortality risk for all patient population regardless of age. CONCLUSION: This nationwide study provides a unique preview of the cost associated with care for pediatric pneumonia. Such information is essential in developing strategies to improve health outcomes and resources allocation.