Improved Outcomes for Children at Pediatric-Only Hospitals

Strategic Insights -

Researchers at the University of California Irvine compared admission patterns between combined pediatric-adult trauma centers (CPACs) and pediatric-only hospitals (POHs) for 1-14-year-old patients. The study analyzed data from the Trauma Quality Improvement Program database, retrospectively examining admissions from 2017 to 2021. The findings suggest that patients treated at POHs were slightly younger and had different injury severity scores and mechanisms of injury compared to those admitted to CPACs.

Key Takeaways:

  • The study found that 55.2% of children were treated at POHs, while 44.8% were treated at CPACs.
  • Patients admitted to POHs were slightly younger (median age of 7 years) compared to those admitted to CPACs (median age of 8 years).
  • The primary outcomes of the study were overall and ICU admissions rates.
  • Secondary outcomes included inpatient complications and mortality.
  • The study used two separate multivariable logistic regression analyses to evaluate the risk of mortality and complications for patients admitted to either POHs or CPACs, controlling for age, injury severity score, mechanism of injury, and brain injury.

Statistics:

  • The study analyzed data from 199,414 children, of which 110,041 (55.2%) were treated at POHs and 89,373 (44.8%) were treated at CPACs.
  • Patients admitted to POHs had a median age of 7 years, while those admitted to CPACs had a median age of 8 years.
  • The study found that overall and ICU admissions rates were higher at CPACs compared to POHs.

Sources:

  • Comparing Admission Patterns Between Combined Pediatric-adult and Pediatric-only Trauma Centers. Journal of Surgical Research, 2025;312:1-6.
  • University of California Irvine. Dept. of Surgery, Div Trauma Burns & Surg Crit Care. Orange, CA, United States.