712 - Evaluating Screening Rates and Demographics of Food Insecurity in the Pediatric Inpatient Setting

Publication Number: 712.4668

Kendra Haas, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, KY, United States; Bethany M. Selby, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, KY, United States; Kelly A. Lyons, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Norton Children's Hospital, Louisville, KY, United States; Laura Bishop, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, United States; Sukruthi Yerramreddy, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, KY, United States; Erin Laubacher, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, KY, United States; Andrew C. Dunbar, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Jeffersonville, IN, United States

Background: Since the COVID-19 pandemic, food insecurity (FI) has increased nationally. The rising rate of FI impacts health outcomes of children in affected households, placing those children at higher risk for hospitalization. Limited research exists evaluating FI screening rates for hospitalized pediatric patients.

Objective: Determine the screening rate for FI within our tertiary children’s hospital for admitted patients and to describe demographic trends in patients with FI compared to those who are food secure.

Design/Methods: We conducted a subset analysis of a retrospective chart review from January 2023 to January 2024 of all patients admitted at least 24 hours to our tertiary children’s hospital. All patients included had FI screening performed utilizing the Hunger Vital Signs. Patients were excluded if they were admitted less than 24 hours and/or not appropriately screened. Our subset analysis focused on analyzing demographic data (race/ethnicity, insurance type, and Malnutrition diagnosis) of positive FI patients. Quantitative analysis utilizing appropriate non-parametric testing were performed.

Results: Of 3435 patients admitted, 2824 (73.6%) patients were screened for FI and 198 (7%) were positive for FI. Most (95%) screening was performed by nursing, 4.4% by residents, and 0.6% by social work. Statistically significant differences were found in rates of FI based on patient race/ethnicity: 35.4% of those with FI were African Americans (n=70/198), 22.7% Hispanic (n=45/198), 1% Asian (n=2/198) and other non-white ethnicities at 2.5% (n=5/198) (p < 0.001). African American patients had significantly higher odds of FI than Caucasian patients (OR = 2.402, p = 0.001). There was no significant association between FI and insurance status or malnutrition diagnosis.

Conclusion(s): In this study of admitted pediatric patients, FI screening was common and typically performed by nurses. Significant differences in FI were noted based on patient race/ethnicity. This data adds to the growing literature about FI in inpatient pediatric settings. Further studies exploring barriers to screening and availability of outpatient resources to families are warranted.