Evaluation of Neighborhood Resources and Pediatric Status Epilepticus Outcomes in the Intensive Care Unit Across the United States

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate outcomes for children with underlying epilepsy admitted to an intensive care unit for status epilepticus in relation to Child Opportunity Index. Data were obtained from the Pediatric Health Information System for patients aged 1 month to 21 years admitted to the intensive care unit for a primary diagnosis of epilepsy with status epilepticus. Mixed effects regression models were used to estimate the association between Child Opportunity Index and our outcomes: invasive mechanical ventilation, vasoactive medication administration, and in-hospital mortality. Encounters with very low, low, and moderate Child Opportunity Index levels were more likely to receive invasive mechanical ventilation compared to very high Child Opportunity Index level, though there were no differences for vasoactive medication administration or in-hospital mortality. This demonstration of neighborhood disparities specifically for children with epilepsy presenting in status epilepticus to an intensive care unit should inform future interventions aimed at improving neighborhood resources.