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The following is a summary of “Blood Lead Testing and Follow-up Testing Among Children Hospitalized for Lead Poisoning,” published in the October 2024 issue of Pediatrics by Chen et al.
Lead poisoning in children poses significant health risks and societal costs, many children, especially those from low-income backgrounds, suffer from preventable lead exposure.
Researchers conducted a retrospective study to assess blood lead testing and follow-up among children hospitalized for lead poisoning (LP).
They analyzed hospital discharge data (2015-2021) linked to lead surveillance data for children aged 0-5 years in Pennsylvania. The sociodemographic characteristics, hospitalization data, and blood lead testing were examined among children with a primary diagnosis of LP.
The results showed 93 children hospitalized for LP, incurring 443 inpatient days and approximately $6 million in inpatient charges. Of these, 69.9% were male, 36.6% were non-Hispanic Black, 67.7% were aged 0-2 years, and 88.2% were under Medicaid. Lead testing was missing for 20.4%, and 34.4% had appropriate follow-up testing before hospitalization. Non-Hispanic white children and those with developmental, behavioral, and emotional disorders had relatively low rates of proper follow-up testing.
They concluded that childhood LP was a significant health burden, especially among Medicaid recipients, and improvements in blood lead testing and follow-up were needed.
