Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39871744›Full record

ArticleJournal of pediatric gastroenterology and nutrition2025

A prospective study of diagnostic testing and hospital charges after brief resolved unexplained event.

Daniel R Duncan, Clare Golden, Kara Larson, Amanda S Growdon, Enju Liu

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Journal of pediatric gastroenterology and nutrition, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
6citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

6 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
  3. Article
  4. Article
  5. Article
  6. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Daniel R DuncanAerodigestive Center, Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.ORCID 0000-0003-4771-8901
Clare GoldenAerodigestive Center, Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
Kara LarsonAerodigestive Center, Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
Amanda S GrowdonHospital Medicine Program, Division of General Pediatrics, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
Enju LiuInstitutional Centers for Clinical and Translational Research, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.

Funding

Effect of Thickened Feeds on Swallow Physiology and Clinical Outcomes in Children with Brief Resolved Unexplained Event (Supplement)K23DK127251 · NIDDK · BOSTON CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL · PI DUNCAN, DANIEL R. · 2021 to 2025
$1.1M
NIDDK NIH HHS K23 DK127251NIH HHS K23 DK127251
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectivesTo evaluate diagnostic testing frequency/yield and determine drivers of hospital charges in a prospective cohort of infants with brief resolved unexplained event (BRUE) to test the hypothesis that length of stay (LOS), low-yield diagnostic testing, and repeat hospital visits increase costs.

methodsWe conducted a prospective cohort study of infants admitted after BRUE to determine how clinical practice impacts the cost of care. Charge data from our institution's billing records database included room and board, diagnostics, medications, and professional fees for index hospitalizations and 6-month follow-ups. Charts were reviewed for clinical data, testing results, and repeat hospitalizations. Parent-reported symptoms and management changes were obtained by questionnaires. Multivariable analyses with linear regression were conducted to determine risk factors for hospitalization charges and total charges including hospitalization and 6-month follow-up.

resultsThe cohort included 155 subjects with median index hospitalization charges of $11,256 and total charges of $15,675. Overall, 76% had persistent BRUE symptoms and 15% repeat hospitalization; 34% were treated with acid suppression. Only 9.7% of the tests performed provided a potential diagnosis, but the videofluoroscopic swallow study (VFSS) had the highest yield with 70% abnormal. On multivariable analysis, LOS, VFSS, flexible laryngoscopy, electroencephalogram, and repeat hospital visits were all associated with increased charges (fold change: 142%-354%).

conclusionsHospitalization and follow-up care are costly after BRUE. Potentially modifiable drivers of charges include test number, LOS, and repeat hospital visits. Most testing is low-yield, but timely performance of VFSS may allow for cost-effective and appropriate treatment of oropharyngeal dysphagia and prevention of persistent symptoms. Gastroenterologists are frequently involved in caring for these children and are uniquely positioned to help guide testing and treatment related to gastroesophageal reflux disease and oropharyngeal dysphagia.

Indexed as

Diagnostic Tests, RoutineGastroesophageal RefluxHospital ChargesHospitalizationFemaleHumansInfantLength of StayMaleProspective StudiesBRUEoropharyngeal dysphagiavideofluoroscopic swallow study

Identifiers

PMID39871744
PMCPMC12148409

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceTDM
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.