Adequacy of two ambulatory care surveillance systems for tracking childhood obesity practice patterns

Assessment of Underuse and Overuse of Screening Tests for Co-occurring Conditions Among Children With Obesity

IMPORTANCE

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends laboratory screening for diabetes, dyslipidemia, and liver disease every 2 years among children aged 10 years and older with obesity. Routine screening for hypothyroidism or hyperinsulinemia is not recommended. National data on rates of adherence to AAP-recommended screening and rates of potentially unnecessary endocrine testing are unavailable.

OBJECTIVE

To assess rates of AAP-adherent screening and potentially unnecessary endocrine testing among privately and publicly insured children diagnosed with obesity at well-child visits.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS

This cross-sectional study used data from the 2018-2019 IBM MarketScan Commercial Database (which contains claims from privately insured patients across the US) and the 2018-2019 IBM MarketScan Multi-State Medicaid Database (which contains claims from Medicaid patients in multiple states). A total of 156 773 children aged 10 to 18 years with obesity diagnosis codes at a well-child visit from December 1, 2018, through November 30, 2019, were included. Analysis was performed from May 1 to October 31, 2021.

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES

Primary outcomes were the proportion of children who received AAP-adherent screening during the 729 days before to 30 days after a well-child visit and the proportion of children who received 1 or more potentially unnecessary thyroid or insulin tests during the same period. Proportions of children by payer type were compared using logistic regression models adjusted for age and sex. To assess screening that was potentially ordered by primary care clinicians, the proportion of children without AAP-adherent screening before visits who received this screening within 30 days was calculated.

RESULTS

Of 156 773 children, the mean (SD) age was 13.5 years (2.5) years; 83 305 (53.1%) were male, and 97 595 (62.3%) were publicly insured. Among publicly insured children, 13 167 (13.5%) were Hispanic or Latino, 34 792 (35.6%) were non-Hispanic Black, 42 029 (43.1%) were non-Hispanic White, 3850 (3.9%) were of other race and/or ethnicity (specific races and ethnicities were not available in the database), and 3757 (3.8%) were of unknown race and ethnicity. Race and ethnicity were not available for privately insured children because these data are not reported in the commercial claims database. During the 729 days before to 30 days after well-child visits, 42 849 patients (27.3%) received AAP-adherent screening, including 13 939 (23.6%) of 59 178 privately insured children and 28 910 (29.6%) of 97 595 publicly insured children (average marginal effect for public insurance: 6.8 [95% CI, 6.3-7.2] percentage points). In addition, 46 592 children (29.7%) received potentially unnecessary thyroid or insulin tests, including 12 834 (21.7%) of 59 178 privately insured children and 23 198 (23.8%) of 97 595 publicly insured children (average marginal effect for public insurance: 2.4 [95% CI, 2.0-2.8] percentage points). Among 129 104 children who did not receive AAP-adherent screening before visits, 15 090 (11.7%) received this screening within 30 days.

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

In this cross-sectional study, similar proportions of children diagnosed with obesity at well-child visits received recommended and nonrecommended screening tests for obesity-related co-occurring conditions, suggesting that specific actionable guidelines and interventions are needed to prevent overuse and underuse of screening tests among children with obesity.

Differences in Frequency of Visits to Pediatric Primary Care Practices and Emergency Departments by Body Mass Index

OBJECTIVES

To examine differences in utilization across health care settings among children by body mass index (BMI) categories to help identify opportunities for interventions.

METHODS

A retrospective study was conducted using 1 year of electronic health records following an index primary care visit for children 3 to 17 years old in 2016. Index visits occurred at >40 pediatric practices affiliated with a Northeastern health system. Using normal BMI as a reference group, we examined the extent to which children's BMI percentile categories were associated with primary care visits, emergency department (ED) visits, hospitalizations, and ED visit acuity. Age, sex, race/ethnicity, and insurance status were used as covariates.

RESULTS

Of those with biologically plausible values for height and weight (n = 30,352), the prevalences of overweight, obesity, and severe obesity were 16.3%, 12.4%, and 5.7%, respectively. Children outside of the normal BMI range made more primary care visits; however, relative patterns of ED utilization were not consistent. Children with obesity versus normal BMI were less likely to have ED visits of high acuity. Risk of hospitalization was higher among children with overweight or severe obesity.

CONCLUSIONS

Children's BMI categories were associated with health care utilization, specifically primary care visits, ED visits, and hospitalizations. Further investigation is needed to explore the drivers of these differences in utilization, such as the impact of stigma and perceived weight bias on care-seeking patterns, and to examine the role of settings outside of primary care in pediatric weight management.

The Primary Care Obesity Network: Translating Expert Committee Guidelines on Childhood Obesity Into Practice

Childhood obesity remains a serious public health threat. There is an urgent need for innovative, effective, and sustainable interventions for childhood obesity that are multisector, integrated, and pragmatic. Using the 2007 Expert Committee on the Assessment, Prevention, and Treatment of Child and Adolescent Overweight and Obesity as a guide, a tertiary care obesity program at a children's hospital established the Primary Care Obesity Network (PCON). This article describes the structure, implementation, resources, and outcome measures of the PCON, a network of primary care practices and a tertiary care obesity center established to prevent and treat childhood obesity in Central Ohio. This program offers an opportunity to assess how and whether the expert committee guidelines can be translated into practice. As Accountable Care Organizations strive to provide services through the lens of improving population health, the PCON can serve as an example for addressing childhood obesity.

Severely obese preschoolers in a tertiary care obesity program: characteristics and management

OBJECTIVES

To describe the characteristics and management of severely obese 2- to 5-year-olds children referred to a tertiary care multidisciplinary obesity center.

METHODS

A retrospective chart review was conducted of children 2 to 5 years old evaluated at the center from January 2009 to February 2011. Referral eligibility was a body mass index (BMI) ≥95th percentile.

RESULTS

Of the 2- to 5-year-olds seen at the center, 140 (94%) had a BMI >99th percentile. Of these children with severe obesity, 54% were female, 48% were Caucasian, and mean age was 4.60 years (SD = 1.00). Mean BMI and BMI z-score at initial visit was 26.5 kg/m(2) (SD = 4.12) and 3.59 (SD = 0.95), respectively. BMI z-scores varied significantly by age-χ(2)(3, N = 140) = 54.44, P < .001-and gender-χ(2)(1, N = 140) = -5.31, P < .001-with males and younger children presenting at much higher BMI z-scores. Most of the children had a family history of obesity, (85%), type 2 diabetes (74%), and hypertension (74%). Nearly one third of families reported history of mental health or substance abuse problems. Comorbidities were prevalent, particularly dyslipidemia and problematic eating behaviors. For the 53% of children who returned for at least one follow-up visit, mean BMI z-score decreased significantly by 0.15-t(79) = 5.31, P < .001.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings underscore the severity of the condition facing these children and their families. With improved retention, the tertiary care multidisciplinary program may be a viable option for successful intervention for these children.

Identification and counseling for obesity among children on psychotropic medications in ambulatory settings

OBJECTIVE

To examine identification and counseling for obesity at pediatric office visits associated with psychotropic medications.

DESIGN AND METHODS

Analysis of ambulatory care visits by children 2-17 years in the National Ambulatory Medical Care Surveys and outpatient component of the National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Surveys from 2005 to 2008. Physician identification of obesity was determined using ICD-9 CM diagnostic codes.

RESULTS

In 2005-2008, there were 38,539 pediatric ambulatory care visits weighted to represent 600 million pediatric visits nationally. Psychotropic medications were associated with 5.2% of visits. The prevalence of overweight/obesity (BMI ≥ 85th%tile) was 15.9% for visits without psychotropic medication, 19.4% and 16.8% for visits associated with nonobesogenic and obesogenic psychotropic medications, respectively. Controlling for age, gender, and BMI, obesity was more likely to be identified at visits associated with psychotropic medications (OR 5.2, 95% CI 3-8.8), among females (OR 1.6, 95% CI 1.1-2.3) and non-Hispanics (OR 1.5, 95% CI 1.0-2.4). At visits with psychotropic medications, dietary counseling was provided at 11.4%, while blood pressure and cholesterol screening were obtained at 6.9% and 6.8% of these visits, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results indicate suboptimal identification and counseling for obesity children who are prescribed psychotropic medications, despite their increased risk for weight gain.

The association of BMI status with adolescent preventive screening

OBJECTIVE

To examine the relationship between BMI status (normal, overweight, and obese) and preventive screening among adolescents at their last checkup.

METHODS

We used population-based data from the 2003-2007 California Health Interview Surveys, telephone interviews of adolescents aged 12 to 17 years with a checkup in the past 12 months (n = 9220). Respondents were asked whether they received screening for nutrition, physical activity, and emotional distress. BMI was calculated from self-reported height and weight: (1) normal weight or underweight (<85th percentile); (2) overweight (85th-94th percentile); and (3) obese (>95th percentile). Multivariate logistic regression models tested how screening by topic differed according to BMI status, adjusting for age, gender, income, race/ethnicity, and survey year.

RESULTS

Screening percentages in the pooled sample (all 3 years) were higher for obese, but not overweight, adolescents for physical activity (odds ratio: 1.4; P < .01) and nutrition (odds ratio: 1.6; screening did not differ P < .01). Stratified analysis by year revealed higher screening for obese (versus normal-weight) adolescents for nutrition and physical activity in 2003 and for all 3 topics in 2005. However, by 2007, screening did not differ according to BMI status. Overall screening between 2003 and 2007 declined for nutrition (75%-59%; P < .01), physical activity (74%-60%; P < .01), and emotional distress (31%-24%; P < .01).

CONCLUSIONS

Obese adolescents receive more preventive screening versus their normal-weight peers. Overweight adolescents do not report more screening, but standards of care dictate increased attention for this group. These results are discouraging amid a rise in pediatric obesity and new guidelines that recommend screening by BMI status.