Pediatric anesthesia & critical care
Socioeconomic Status, Rurality, and Pediatric Critical Care Admission
Authors' conclusion
In this retrospective cohort study there was higher burden of critical care admission for children living in rural areas and small population centers, and areas with higher situational vulnerability. The association between situational vulnerability and critical care incidence was unique to rural or small regions.
Study context
- Population
- Children aged 0 to 17 years admitted to ICUs in British Columbia, Canada, 2014–2023
- Participants
- 10,048 children · 13,990 admissions
- Exposure
- Rural or small vs medium or large population centres; most vs least deprived situational vulnerability quintile
- Outcome
- Incidence rate of critical care admission
Methodological detailslinked data, Data analysed June to November 2025
- Linked data
- Data analysed June to November 2025
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Incidence rate ratio (95% CI)
Rural or small vs Medium or large
1.35(1.28–1.41)
Quintile 5 vs Quintile 1
1.31(1.23–1.39)
- Overall incidence rate (per 100 000 person years)
- 154
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
| Outcome | IRR (95% CI) | |
|---|---|---|
| Situational vulnerability quintile 5 vs 1 in medium or large population centres (subgroup)Medium or large population centers | 1.04 (0.97–1.12) | |
| Rural or small, most deprived quintile vs highest quintile in large or medium population centres (interaction)Highest overall rate | 2.02 (1.87–2.19) | |
| 0.512Incidence rate ratio (log scale) |
Situational vulnerability quintile 5 vs 1 in medium or large population centres (subgroup)
- No association between situational vulnerability quintile and critical care admission in medium or large population centres
Original publication
Socioeconomic Status, Rurality, and Pediatric Critical Care Admission. JAMA Netw Open. Published 2 March 2026. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →