Christian Sadaka, MD: Significant Increase in Pediatric Gastroparesis Hospital Admissions After COVID-19

Key Takeaways

• Pediatric gastroparesis admissions increased significantly post-COVID-19, with a peak in 2022 and regional variations in admission rates.
• The study analyzed data from 42 pediatric hospitals, covering 20,293 admissions from January 2014 to September 2023.
• Factors contributing to longer hospital stays include young age, mental health issues, chronic comorbidities, and malnutrition.
• Understanding these factors can aid in personalizing care and advancing precision medicine for pediatric gastroparesis patients.

Research presented at the 2024 Annual North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition (NASPGHAN) Meeting in Hollywood, Florida, from November 7 to 9, 2024, demonstrated a significant increase in hospital admissions in children with gastroparesis after the COVID-19 pandemic.

The study, led by Christian Sadaka, MD, from the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, sought to report the national trends for hospital admission of pediatric gastroparesis before and after COVID-19, as well as data on admission characteristics, length of stay, and factors affecting the increase in hospital stays. Leveraging January 2014 – September 2023 data from 42 pediatric hospitals, retrieved from the Pediatric Health Information System database, the study included 20293 pediatric gastroparesis admissions.
LINK