Question  How many children receive intensive care in the US annually? [JAMA Network]

Findings  In this cohort study of all hospital discharges of children in 21 states, there was an increase in the proportion of admissions involving intensive care from 2001 to 2019. Meaning  The findings indicate increasing medical complexity and illness severity and longer hospital stays among critically ill children in the US.

Design, Setting, and Participants  This population-based retrospective cohort study used data from the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project’s state inpatient databases from a total of 21 US states in 2001, 2004, 2010, 2016, and 2019. Hospitalized children aged 0 to 17 years, excluding newborns (during birth hospitalization), were included. Patients admitted to rehabilitation institutions or psychiatric hospitals were also excluded. Data were analyzed from July 2021 to December 2022.

Original Investigation - Caring for the Critically Ill Patient

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