Socioeconomic Status and Bronchiolitis Severity Among Hospitalized Infants

Abstract OBJECTIVE To investigate the relationship between socioeconomic factors and bronchiolitis severity among hospitalized infants. METHODS We performed a 17-center, prospective cohort study from 2011 to 2014. Children RESULTS In multivariable models adjusted for demographic and clinical characteristics, estimated MHI was the socioeconomic factor most strongly associated with severity. Compared to infants with an intermediate MHI ($40,000 – $79,999), odds of receiving intensive care treatment were significantly higher for those with MHI of ≥$80,000 (aOR 2.05, 95%CI 1.19-3.53). No significant associations were found for the other socioeconomic factors (all P >0.30). While there were no significant differences in clinical presentation between income groups (all P >0.25) or in receipt of mechanical ventilation alone ( P  = 0.98), infants with estimated MHI ≥$80,000 were significantly more likely to specifically have been admitted to the intensive care unit ( P  = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS In this multicenter study of infants hospitalized with bronchiolitis, we identified higher median household income as a risk factor for intensive care treatment. This work may yield important biological or non-biological insights for the future management of infants with bronchiolitis.