40 - Mental Health Outcomes in Pediatric Asthma Patients
Sunday, April 24, 2022
3:30 PM – 6:00 PM US MT
Poster Number: 40 Publication Number: 40.300
Katelyn S. Chan, Stanford University School of Medicine, Menlo Park, CA, United States; Ryan Han, Stanford University, Cupertino, CA, United States; M M. Chandler, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States; Stephanie Chao, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, United States
Medical Student Stanford University School of Medicine Menlo Park, California, United States
Background: Asthma is the most common chronic childhood illness in the United States, accounting for significant morbidity and health care utilization. Prior research suggests a correlation between childhood asthma diagnoses and poor mental health outcomes. However, there are few population-based studies assessing this risk.
Objective: To assess the risk of developing a mental health diagnosis among pediatric asthma patients at the population level.
Design/Methods: The IBM MarketScan private insurance claims database was used to identify children (5-18yo) admitted to the hospital between 2007 and 2016. Time-to-event analysis was performed to compare mental health outcomes of PTSD, depression, anxiety, and adjustment disorder among children admitted with asthma to those admitted for uncomplicated appendicitis, cystic fibrosis (CF), and those treated in the outpatient setting for asthma and CF.
Results: 1,820,016 children admitted for asthma, cystic fibrosis, and appendicitis were identified in the database. Among the 26,295 children with asthma-related hospital admissions, 3.31% developed a subsequent mental health diagnosis of PTSD, depression, anxiety, or adjustment disorder. When adjusted for personal characteristics including sex, age, and number of healthcare exposures, children admitted for asthma were at increased risk of developing a mental health diagnosis compared to a control group of children with uncomplicated appendicitis (HR 1.642, p < 0.001). Children with asthma treated in the outpatient setting and children admitted for CF were also at an increased risk of developing a mental health diagnosis relative to appendicitis (HR 1.251, p < 0.001 and HR 1.316, p=0.003 respectively). There was no significant difference in risk between children treated only in the outpatient setting for CF relative to patients with appendicitis (HR 1.056, p=0.205). Children admitted with asthma were the only group with a significantly increased risk of developing PTSD (HR 3.155, p = 0.028). Conclusion(s): Children admitted to the hospital for asthma are at increased risk of developing mental health conditions compared to patients admitted for cystic fibrosis, appendicitis, or treated in the outpatient setting for cystic fibrosis or asthma. Early identification of children at risk for mental health conditions has the potential to enable appropriate intervention and treatment. Chan_Katelyn_CVCV_Chan, K.pdf