Cost of pediatric gastroenteritis hospitalizations in the United States

Abstract

Gastroenteritis is a common cause of pediatric hospitalization. We sought to determine the national costs of pediatric gastroenteritis hospitalizations. We conducted a cross‐sectional study of children under 18 years old hospitalized for gastroenteritis using the Kids Inpatient Database of 2016, 2019, and 2022. The outcome was inflation‐adjusted cost using cost‐to‐charge ratios. We determined hospitalization counts, summarized costs, and constructed a linear regression model evaluating demographic features associated with cost. There were 127,630 hospitalizations in the 3 years, of which 69,379 (54.4%) hospitalizations occurred among children under 3 years old. National costs were $285 million in 2016, $276 million in 2019, and $305 million in 2022. Median (interquartile range) per‐hospitalization costs were $4029 (2452–6997). Compared with no complex chronic conditions, having 1, 2, or ≥3 was associated with 48.2% (95% CI 45.2, 51.3), 111% (95% CI 104, 119), and 194% (95% CI 179, 209) higher adjusted costs. Gastroenteritis generates substantial hospitalization costs.