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Nationwide study of appendicitis in children

Omling, E. LU orcid ; Salö, M. LU ; Saluja, S. LU ; Bergbrant, S. LU ; Olsson, L. ; Persson, A. LU ; Björk, J. LU and Hagander, L. LU orcid (2019) In British Journal of Surgery 106(12). p.1623-1631
Abstract

Background: Paediatric surgical care is increasingly being centralized away from low-volume centres, and prehospital delay is considered a risk factor for more complicated appendicitis. The aim of this study was to determine the incidence of paediatric appendicitis in Sweden, and to assess whether distance to the hospital was a risk factor for complicated disease. Methods: A nationwide cohort study of all paediatric appendicitis cases in Sweden, 2001–2014, was undertaken, including incidence of disease in different population strata, with trends over time. The risk of complicated disease was determined by regression methods, with travel time as the primary exposure and individual-level socioeconomic determinants as independent... (More)

Background: Paediatric surgical care is increasingly being centralized away from low-volume centres, and prehospital delay is considered a risk factor for more complicated appendicitis. The aim of this study was to determine the incidence of paediatric appendicitis in Sweden, and to assess whether distance to the hospital was a risk factor for complicated disease. Methods: A nationwide cohort study of all paediatric appendicitis cases in Sweden, 2001–2014, was undertaken, including incidence of disease in different population strata, with trends over time. The risk of complicated disease was determined by regression methods, with travel time as the primary exposure and individual-level socioeconomic determinants as independent variables. Results: Some 38 939 children with appendicitis were identified. Of these, 16·8 per cent had complicated disease, and the estimated risk of paediatric appendicitis by age 18 years was 2·5 per cent. Travel time to the treating hospital was not associated with complicated disease (adjusted odds ratio (OR) 1·00 (95 per cent c.i. 0·96 to 1·05) per 30-min increase; P = 0·934). Level of education (P = 0·177) and family income (P = 0·120) were not independently associated with increased risk of complicated disease. Parental unemployment (adjusted OR 1·17, 95 per cent c.i. 1·05 to 1·32; P = 0·006) and having parents born outside Sweden (1 parent born in Sweden: adjusted OR 1·12, 1·01 to 1·25; both parents born outside Sweden: adjusted OR 1·32, 1·18 to 1·47; P < 0·001) were associated with an increased risk of complicated appendicitis. Conclusion: Every sixth child diagnosed with appendicitis in Sweden has a more complicated course of disease. Geographical distance to the surgical facility was not a risk factor for complicated appendicitis.

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author
; ; ; ; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
British Journal of Surgery
volume
106
issue
12
pages
1623 - 1631
publisher
Oxford University Press
external identifiers
  • scopus:85070498345
  • pmid:31386195
ISSN
0007-1323
DOI
10.1002/bjs.11298
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
eb6e61c6-f394-46bd-bdb9-ce3861a41cce
date added to LUP
2019-08-23 09:27:52
date last changed
2024-04-16 18:00:39
@article{eb6e61c6-f394-46bd-bdb9-ce3861a41cce,
  abstract     = {{<p>Background: Paediatric surgical care is increasingly being centralized away from low-volume centres, and prehospital delay is considered a risk factor for more complicated appendicitis. The aim of this study was to determine the incidence of paediatric appendicitis in Sweden, and to assess whether distance to the hospital was a risk factor for complicated disease. Methods: A nationwide cohort study of all paediatric appendicitis cases in Sweden, 2001–2014, was undertaken, including incidence of disease in different population strata, with trends over time. The risk of complicated disease was determined by regression methods, with travel time as the primary exposure and individual-level socioeconomic determinants as independent variables. Results: Some 38 939 children with appendicitis were identified. Of these, 16·8 per cent had complicated disease, and the estimated risk of paediatric appendicitis by age 18 years was 2·5 per cent. Travel time to the treating hospital was not associated with complicated disease (adjusted odds ratio (OR) 1·00 (95 per cent c.i. 0·96 to 1·05) per 30-min increase; P = 0·934). Level of education (P = 0·177) and family income (P = 0·120) were not independently associated with increased risk of complicated disease. Parental unemployment (adjusted OR 1·17, 95 per cent c.i. 1·05 to 1·32; P = 0·006) and having parents born outside Sweden (1 parent born in Sweden: adjusted OR 1·12, 1·01 to 1·25; both parents born outside Sweden: adjusted OR 1·32, 1·18 to 1·47; P &lt; 0·001) were associated with an increased risk of complicated appendicitis. Conclusion: Every sixth child diagnosed with appendicitis in Sweden has a more complicated course of disease. Geographical distance to the surgical facility was not a risk factor for complicated appendicitis.</p>}},
  author       = {{Omling, E. and Salö, M. and Saluja, S. and Bergbrant, S. and Olsson, L. and Persson, A. and Björk, J. and Hagander, L.}},
  issn         = {{0007-1323}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{08}},
  number       = {{12}},
  pages        = {{1623--1631}},
  publisher    = {{Oxford University Press}},
  series       = {{British Journal of Surgery}},
  title        = {{Nationwide study of appendicitis in children}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/bjs.11298}},
  doi          = {{10.1002/bjs.11298}},
  volume       = {{106}},
  year         = {{2019}},
}