Cardiovascular Disease-Related Emergency Department Visits Among Children Aged 0-17 Years in the United States: Findings From the National Emergency Department Sample.

INTRODUCTION

This study examined cardiovascular disease (CVD)-related emergency department (ED) visits among children aged 0-17 years using data from the 2017-2021 National Emergency Department Sample (NEDS).

METHODS

CVD-related primary diagnoses were classified at ED admissions into 14 clinically meaningful primary diagnosis categories. Unweighted counts, weighted counts, percentages, and rankings were stratified by diagnosis categories, sex, and age group.

RESULTS

Among 126,376 pediatric ED visits for CVD-related primary diagnoses, the most common diagnoses were cardiac arrhythmias (48,279 ED visits; 38.2%, 95% confidence interval [CI] [36.6%, 39.8%]), essential hypertension (17,767; 14.1%, 95% CI [13.3%, 14.8%]), and congenital heart disease (14,488; 11.5%, 95% CI [10.0%, 12.9%]). Males had more CVD-related ED visits than females. Children under 5 years primarily presented with congenital heart disease and cardiac arrhythmia, while children aged 5 years and older presented with cardiac arrhythmias and essential hypertension.

DISCUSSION: These findings highlight the need for targeted CVD management strategies in pediatric emergency care.