WIP 21 - Variation in Care and Clinical Outcomes of Pediatric Open Globe Injuries and Rupture in the United States from 2016 to 2024

Publication Number: WIP 21.7498

Tanner Begley, Wright State University Boonshoft School of Medicine, West Carrollton, OH, United States; Ramzi W. Nahhas, Wright State University Boonshoft School of Medicine, Dayton, OH, United States; David L. Rogers, Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, OH, United States; Timothy T. Phamduy, Dayton Children's Hospital, Dayton, OH, United States

Background: Open globe injuries (OGI) are defined as a disruption to the integrity of the wall of the eye, which spans the full thickness of the cornea and/or sclera and are considered a vision-threatening emergency. OGI’s are of particular concern among pediatric populations, given that ocular trauma including OGI is a leading cause of monocular blindness in the United States (US) and globally. It is imperative to have current and accurate epidemiologic data to inform allocation of resources for the management and prevention of such injuries, especially since an estimated 90% of ocular injuries are preventable.

Objective: This study aims to update previous epidemiologic studies by utilizing the Pediatric Health Information System (PHIS) to estimate the trend in incidence of OGIs in participating hospitals in the United States from January 1, 2016 to December 31, 2024, as well assess demographic predictors of OGI. Secondary aims include estimating associations between complications and variations in care and demographic characteristics and mechanisms of injury.

Design/Methods: The project proposal has been submitted for approval through Dayton Children’s Hospital institutional review board with anticipated exemption status. De-identified data for hospital discharges will be obtained from a census of PHIS, a database collected from over 40 US children's hospitals, for the study period. Annual and monthly incidence of OGI will be computed as the number of hospital encounters with a discharge diagnosis for OGI in each time interval. Negative binomial regression will be used to estimate and test the trend in incidence over time and to evaluate for associations between demographics and incidence mean and trend. Appropriate regression methods will be similarly used to achieve the secondary aims. All analyses will be completed before April 1, 2025.