Determinants of appendicitis outcomes in Canadian children

BackgroundOutcomes of appendicitis may be influenced by access to healthcare. We investigated the determinants of pediatric appendicitis outcomes in the single-payer Canadian healthcare system.MethodsChildren coded for urgent appendectomy by the Canadian Institute of Health Information during the period 2004–2010 were analyzed. Misdiagnosis rate, perforated appendicitis rate, and hospital stay were the outcomes studied. Analyzed variables included age, gender, domicile, socioeconomic status, surgeon’s specialty, hospital type, region, and operative approach. Logistic regression analysis was used to examine associations, and a quintile regression model examined the effect on median hospital stay.Results41,702 patients were studied. A higher rate of perforated appendicitis was associated with lower age [OR 2.66], male gender [OR 1.18], pediatric surgeon [OR 1.25], and treatment outside the Maritimes. A higher rate of misdiagnosis was associated with lower age [OR 1.53], female gender [OR 2.29], non-children’s hospital [OR 1.33], and western Canada [OR 1.22]. A significantly longer hospital stay was associated with open appendectomy, pediatric surgeon, and the Territories for simple appendicitis, and open appendectomy, pediatric surgeon, children’s hospital, and the Maritimes for perforated appendicitis.ConclusionsIn Canada, outcomes of pediatric appendicitis are associated with regional and treatment-level factors. Rural domicile and socioeconomic status do not affect outcomes.