Pandemic Stringency Measures and Hospital Admissions for Eating Disorders.

Importance: Hospitalizations for eating disorders rose dramatically during the COVID-19 pandemic. Public health restrictions, or stringency, are believed to have played a role in exacerbating eating disorders. Few studies of eating disorders during the pandemic have extended to the period when public health stringency restrictions were lifted. Objective: To assess the association between hospitalization rates for eating disorders and public health stringency during the COVID-19 pandemic and after the easing of public health restrictions. Design, Setting, and Participants: This Canadian population-based cross-sectional study was performed from April 1, 2016, to March 31, 2023, and was divided into pre-COVID-19 and COVID-19-prevalent periods. Data were provided by the Canadian Institute for Health Information and the Institut National d'Excellence en Santé et Services Sociaux for all Canadian provinces and territories. Participants included all children and adolescents aged 6 to 20 years. Exposure: The exposure was public health stringency, as measured by the Bank of Canada stringency index. Main Outcomes and Measures: The primary outcome was hospitalizations for a primary diagnosis of eating disorders (International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, Tenth Revision code F50), stratified by region, age group, and sex. Interrupted time series analyses based on Poisson regression were used to estimate the association between the stringency index and the rate of hospitalizations for eating disorders. Results: During the study period, there were 11 289 hospitalizations for eating disorders across Canada, of which 8726 hospitalizations (77%) were for females aged 12 to 17 years. Due to low case counts in other age-sex strata, the time series analysis was limited to females within the 12- to 17-year age range. Among females aged 12 to 17 years, a 10% increase in stringency was associated with a significant increase in hospitalization rates in Quebec (adjusted rate ratio [ARR], 1.05; 95% CI, 1.01-1.07), Ontario (ARR, 1.05; 95% CI, 1.03-1.07), the Prairies (ARR, 1.08; 95% CI, 1.03-1.13), and British Columbia (ARR, 1.11; 95% CI, 1.05-1.16). The excess COVID-19-prevalent period hospitalizations were highest at the 1-year mark, with increases in all regions: Quebec (RR, 2.17), Ontario (RR, 2.44), the Prairies (RR, 2.39), and British Columbia (RR, 2.02). Conclusion and Relevance: In this cross-sectional study of hospitalizations for eating disorders across Canada, hospitalization rates for eating disorders in females aged 12 to 17 years were associated with public health measure stringency. The findings suggest that future pandemic preparedness should consider implications for youths at risk for eating disorders and their resource and support needs.

Mental Health Hospitalizations in Canadian Children, Adolescents, and Young Adults Over the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Importance: The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in multiple socially restrictive public health measures and reported negative mental health impacts in youths. Few studies have evaluated incidence rates by sex, region, and social determinants across an entire population. Objective: To estimate the incidence of hospitalizations for mental health conditions, stratified by sex, region, and social determinants, in children and adolescents (hereinafter referred to as youths) and young adults comparing the prepandemic and pandemic-prevalent periods. Design, Setting, and Participants: This Canadian population-based repeated ecological cross-sectional study used health administrative data, extending from April 1, 2016, to March 31, 2023. All youths and young adults from 6 to 20 years of age in each of the Canadian provinces and territories were included. Data were provided by the Canadian Institute for Health Information for all provinces except Quebec; the Institut National d'Excellence en Santé et en Services Sociaux provided aggregate data for Quebec. Exposures: The COVID-19-prevalent period, defined as April 1, 2020, to March 31, 2023. Main Outcomes and Measures: The main outcome measures were the prepandemic and COVID-19-prevalent incidence rates of hospitalizations for anxiety, mood disorders, eating disorders, schizophrenia or psychosis, personality disorders, substance-related disorders, and self-harm. Secondary measures included hospitalization differences by sex, age group, and deprivation as well as emergency department visits for the same mental health conditions. Results: Among Canadian youths and young adults during the study period, there were 218 101 hospitalizations for mental health conditions (ages 6 to 11 years: 5.8%, 12 to 17 years: 66.9%, and 18 to 20 years: 27.3%; 66.0% female). The rate of mental health hospitalizations decreased from 51.6 to 47.9 per 10 000 person-years between the prepandemic and COVID-19-prevalent years. However, the pandemic was associated with a rise in hospitalizations for anxiety (incidence rate ratio [IRR], 1.11; 95% CI, 1.08-1.14), personality disorders (IRR, 1.21; 95% CI, 1.16-1.25), suicide and self-harm (IRR, 1.10; 95% CI, 1.07-1.13), and eating disorders (IRR, 1.66; 95% CI, 1.60-1.73) in females and for eating disorders (IRR, 1.47; 95% CI, 1.31-1.67) in males. In both sexes, there was a decrease in hospitalizations for mood disorders (IRR, 0.84; 95% CI, 0.83-0.86), substance-related disorders (IRR, 0.83; 95% CI, 0.81-0.86), and other mental health disorders (IRR, 0.78; 95% CI, 0.76-0.79). Conclusions and Relevance: This cross-sectional study of Canadian youths and young adults found a rise in anxiety, personality disorders, and suicidality in females and a rise in eating disorders in both sexes in the COVID-19-prevalent period. These results suggest that in future pandemics, policymakers should support youths and young adults who are particularly vulnerable to deterioration in mental health conditions during public health restrictions, including eating disorders, anxiety, and suicidality.

Who is in Your Waiting Room? Social Determinants of Health and Adverse Childhood Experiences in Pediatric Surgery Clinics.

BACKGROUND: Social determinants of health (SDoH) influence overall health, although little is known about the SDoH for pediatric patients requiring surgical services. This study aims to describe SDoH for pediatric surgical patients attending out-patient, community, and outreach clinics, as well as demonstrate the feasibility of identifying and addressing SDoH and Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) when appropriate. METHODS: A cross-sectional study using surveys evaluating SDoH that were distributed to families attending pediatric surgical clinics over a two-year period. The pilot survey used validated questions and was later refined to a shorter version with questions on: Barriers to care, Economic factors, Adversity, Resiliency and Social capital (BEARS). Data was analyzed with descriptive and inferential statistics. RESULTS: 851 families across 13 clinics participated. One third of families reported not having a primary health care provider or being unable to turn to them for additional support. One in four families were found to have a household income less than the Canadian after-tax low-income threshold (<$40,000 CAD). Two-thirds of families answered questions about ACEs, and those with more ACEs were more likely to report a low income. Forty percent of families rarely or only sometimes had adequate social support. CONCLUSION: This survey tool enabled discussions between families and care providers, which allowed clinicians to appropriately follow-up with families and refer them to social work for further support when indicated. Addressing concerns around SDoH within a busy surgical clinical is feasible and may positively affect long-term health outcomes and equitable resource allocation. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: IV.

Lost in translation: a national cross-sectional study on medical interpreter use by pediatric residents.

BACKGROUND: Lack of communication in a family's preferred language is inequitable and results in inferior care. Pediatric residents provide care to many families with non-English or French language preferences (NEFLP). There is no data available about how Canadian pediatric residents use interpreters, making it difficult to develop targeted interventions to improve patient experience. OBJECTIVES: Our purpose was to assess translation services in pediatric training centers and evaluate resident perception of their clinical skills when working with NEFLP patients and families. This survey represents the first collection of data from Canadian pediatric residents about interpreter services. METHODS: Eligible participants included all pediatric residents enrolled in an accredited Canadian pediatric training program. An anonymous survey was developed in REDCap© and distributed via email to all pediatric residents across Canada. Descriptive statistics were performed in STATA v15.1. RESULTS: 122 residents responded. Interpreter services were widely available but underused in a variety of clinical situations. Most (85%) residents felt they provided better care to patients who shared their primary language (English or French), compared with families who preferred other languages-even when an interpreter was present. This finding was consistent across four self-assessed clinical skills. CONCLUSIONS: Residents are more confident in their clinical and communication skills when working with families who share their primary language. Our findings suggest that residents lack the training and confidence to provide equal care to families with varying language preferences. Pediatric training programs should develop curriculum content that targets safe and effective interpreter use while reviewing non-spoken aspects of cultural awareness and safety.

Short duration of parenteral antibiotics in infants with urinary tract infections.

Objectives: Current guidelines by the Canadian Paediatric Society on treating urinary tract infections (UTIs) exclude infants ≤ 60 days old. There is considerable practice variability in this age group, especially around the optimal duration of parenteral antibiotics. The study aimed to assess local practice patterns, and the safety of a short course (≤3 days) of parenteral antibiotics in young infants. Methods: In this retrospective cohort study, 95 infants (≤60 days) with confirmed UTIs were identified at British Columbia Children's Hospital. Patients receiving short (≤3 days) and long (>3 days) duration of parenteral antibiotics were compared. Outcomes of interest included urinary tract infection recurrence within 30 days, hospital length of stay (LOS), representation, and readmission. Results: Twenty infants (21%) received a short course of parenteral antibiotics. These infants were older (median 47 days versus 28 days) and non-bacteremic. Urinary tract infection recurrence was identified in 8 patients (8%), of which 7 were treated with a long duration (P = 1.0). Patients treated with a short duration had a significantly shorter LOS, with a mean difference of 4.21 days [95% CI: 3.37 to 5.05] (P < 0.001). All five (5%) bacteremic patients were treated exclusively with parenteral antibiotics. Conclusions: In a Canadian setting, a short course of parenteral antibiotics is safe in young, non-bacteremic infants with UTIs. Despite substantial evidence, local practice patterns suggest a tendency towards prescription of long courses, providing an opportunity for quality improvement.

Conservative and Surgical Modalities in the Management of Pediatric Parapneumonic Effusion and Empyema: A Living Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis.

BACKGROUND: The optimal treatment for community-acquired childhood pneumonia complicated by empyema remains unclear. RESEARCH QUESTION: In children with parapneumonic effusion or empyema, do hospital length of stay and other key clinical outcomes differ according to the treatment modality used? STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: A living systematic review of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) was conducted by searching the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Embase, Latin American and Caribbean Health Sciences Literature, Ovid MEDLINE, and Web of Science Core Collection databases. Eligible RCTs included patients aged < 18 years and compared two of the following treatment modalities: antibiotics alone, chest tube insertion with or without fibrinolytics, video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS), and decortication via thoracotomy. A network meta-analysis was performed to evaluate treatment effects on hospital length of stay (LOS), the primary outcome. RESULTS: Eleven trials including a total of 590 patients were selected for the network meta-analysis. Compared with a chest tube alone, a chest tube with fibrinolytics, thoracotomy, and VATS were all associated with shorter LOS, with a mean difference of 5.05 days (95% CI, 2.46-7.64), 6.33 days (95% CI, 3.17-9.50), and 5.86 days (95% CI, 3.38-8.35), respectively. No substantial differences in LOS were observed between the latter three interventions. None of the 11 RCTs compared antibiotics alone vs other types of treatment. Most trials reported peri-procedural complications and the need for reintervention, but the descriptions differed significantly between trials, preventing meta-analysis. In trials reporting health care-associated costs, fibrinolytics had cost advantages compared with VATS. Short- and long-term morbidity and mortality were very low, regardless of the treatment modality. INTERPRETATION: The results of this network meta-analysis showed that a chest tube alone was associated with a longer LOS compared with other treatment modalities. The lower cost associated with a chest tube plus fibrinolytics warrants consideration when choosing between treatment options, given similar LOS and clinical outcomes compared with the other modalities.

Preterm birth after recurrent pregnancy loss: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the impact of recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) on the risk of preterm birth (PTB) in subsequent pregnancies. DESIGN: Systematic review and meta-analysis. SETTING: Not applicable. PATIENT(S): Pregnant women with and without a history of RPL. INTERVENTION(S): PubMed, Embase, Google Scholar and Cochrane trial registry were used to identify relevant studies. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): The odds ratios (ORs) for the association between RPL and PTB across included studies were evaluated. Effect estimates were pooled using a DerSimonian and Laird random-effects meta-analysis model. RESULT(S): Eighteen studies met the inclusion criteria. A total of 58,766 women with a history of RPL and 2,949,222 women without a history of RPL were included. A pooled OR of 1.60 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.45-1.78; 18 observational studies; I2 = 85.6%) was observed in our random-effects meta-analysis. A trend toward higher odds of PTB is observed with the increasing number of pregnancy losses: 2 RPLs (pooled OR, 1.31; 95% CI, 1.09-1.57; I2 = 88.9%); ≥2 RPLs (pooled OR, 1.58; 95% CI, 1.27-1.96; I2 = 71.7%); and ≥3 RPLs (pooled OR, 1.81; 95% CI, 1.58-2.07; I2 = 73.6%). The analysis of the risk of PTB for patients with unexplained RPL demonstrated a significantly heightened risk of PTB in this subgroup (pooled OR, 2.05; 95% CI, 1.46-2.89; I2 = 21.0%). Inconsistent adjustment for confounders and significant between-study heterogeneity were noted in this study. CONCLUSION(S): Despite significant heterogeneity among studies, we found that women with a history of RPL had significantly higher odds of delivering preterm infants in subsequent pregnancies. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: CRD 224763.

Treatment of UTIs in Infants <2 Months: A Living Systematic Review.

CONTEXT: Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are the most common bacterial infections in infants <2 months of age. However, there are no clear guidelines on the appropriate duration of antibiotics in this age group. OBJECTIVE: In this living systematic review, we compared different durations of parenteral antibiotics (≤3 vs >3 days) in neonates and young infants (<2 months) with UTIs. The secondary objective was to compare different durations of total antibiotic courses (≤10 vs >10 days). DATA SOURCES: MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Web of Science, Literatura Latino-Americana e do Caribe em Ciências da Saúde, Google Scholar, and gray literature, up to March 2, 2021. STUDY SELECTION: Citations were screened in triplicate by using a crowdsourcing methodology, to identify randomized controlled trials and observational studies. DATA EXTRACTION: Data were extracted by 2 crowd members and verified by an expert investigator. Outcomes were pooled via random-effects models. RESULTS: A total of 10 334 citations were screened, and 12 eligible studies were identified. A total of 59 of 3480 (1.7% [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.3% to 2.2%]) infants had a UTI recurrence within 30 days after short parenteral treatment (≤3 days), and 47 of 1971 (2.4% [95% CI: 1.8% to 3.2%]) after longer courses. The pooled adjusted odds ratio for UTI recurrence with a short versus long duration of parenteral antibiotics was 1.02 (95% CI: 0.64 to 1.61; P = .95; n = 5451). A total of 5 studies assessed the risk of recurrence on the basis of the total duration of antibiotics (≤10 vs >10 days) with no significant differences (pooled odds ratio: 1.29 [95% CI: 0.45 to 3.66; P = .63; n = 491). CONCLUSIONS: On the basis of retrospective studies and Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation level low evidence, short and long duration of parenteral antibiotics were associated with a similar risk of UTI recurrence in infants <2 months.

Conservative and surgical modalities in the management of paediatric parapneumonic effusion and empyema: a protocol for a living systematic review and network meta-analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Parapneumonic effusion and empyema are common complications of paediatric pneumonia. Acceptable treatment modalities for large parapneumonic effusions include antibiotics alone or in conjunction with surgical interventions. Clear guidelines on the best treatment approach are lacking and mostly based on evidence prior to widespread pneumococcal conjugate 13-valent vaccination (PCV-13). METHODS AND ANALYSIS: A living systematic review and network meta-analysis will be performed comparing the five treatment modalities: (1) antibiotics alone; (2) chest tube drainage without fibrinolytics; (3) chest tube drainage with fibrinolytics; (4) video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery and (5) open thoracotomy. The review protocol is reported following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Protocols guidelines. Eligible studies are randomised controlled trials comparing any pair of interventions in paediatric patients with empyema or parapneumonic effusion. The following databases will be searched: Ovid MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), Web of Science, LILACS and Google Scholar. Citation screening and data extraction will be completed using a validated crowdsourcing methodology using InsightScope. To assess the risk of bias, we will use the revised Cochrane risk of bias tool for randomised trials. The primary outcome of the study is the length of stay. Secondary outcomes are (1) periprocedural complications and (2) need for re-intervention. A frequentist network meta-analysis design will be implemented with a random-effects model comparing different interventions. In a subgroup analysis, studies and patients will be stratified by the size of pleural effusion and the date of trial (pre/post-PCV-13). Eligible citations and available results will be uploaded to an online database, hosted on Open Science Framework. The database will be updated at least every 4 months with any newly published research. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: No ethics review is required for this study. Results will be published in a peer-reviewed journal. Data will be available as part of an online database summarising the evidence of this living systematic review. PROSPERO REGISTRATION: Pending peer review.

Serious Illness Conversations in Pediatrics: A Case Review.

The Serious Illness Conversation Guide program developed by Ariadne Labs, a Joint Center for Health Systems Innovation, includes a list of patient-centered questions designed to assist clinicians to gain a more thorough understanding of their patient's life in order to inform future care decisions. In July 2017, specialist pediatric palliative care clinicians at Canuck Place Children's Hospice (CPCH) (Vancouver, BC, Canada), adapted the original guide to use with parents of children with serious illness. This tool is referred to as the Serious Illness Conversation Guide-Peds (SICG-Peds). Using the SICG-Peds, along with enhanced communication skills, can help illuminate the parents' (child's) understanding of illness and the values they hold. Expanding the application of the guide will promote goal-based, efficient, comprehensive and consistent communication between families and clinicians and help ensure that seriously ill children receive care that is tailored to their needs through the disease trajectory. This paper explores the guide through the lens of a case study. The steps-seeking permission, assessing understanding, sharing prognosis and exploring key topics (hopes, fears, strengths, critical abilities and trade-offs)-as well as formulating clinician recommendations, are described.

Respiratory Presentation of Pediatric Patients in the 2014 Enterovirus D68 Outbreak.

Background. In the fall of 2014, a North American outbreak of enterovirus D68 resulted in a significant number of pediatric hospital admissions for respiratory illness throughout North America. This study characterized the clinical presentation and risk factors for a severe clinical course in children admitted to British Columbia Children's Hospital during the 2014 outbreak. Methods. Retrospective chart review of patients with confirmed EV-D68 infection admitted to BCCH with respiratory symptoms in the fall of 2014. Past medical history, clinical presentation, management, and course in hospital was collected and analyzed using descriptive statistics. Comparison was made between those that did and did not require ICU admission to identify risk factors. Results. Thirty-four patients were included (median age 7.5 years). Fifty-three percent of children had a prior history of wheeze, 32% had other preexisting medical comorbidities, and 15% were previously healthy. Ten children (29%) were admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit. The presence of complex medical conditions (excluding wheezing) (P = 0.03) and copathogens was associated with PICU admission (P = 0.02). Conclusions. EV-D68 infection resulted in severe, prolonged presentations of asthma-like illness in the hospitalized pediatric population. Patients with a prior history of wheeze and preexisting medical comorbidities appear to be most severely affected, but the virus can also cause wheezing in previously well children.