Analysis of Health Determinants in Cleft Palate Patients.

Abstract

Objective: This study aims to analyze health determinants affecting patients with cleft palate, specifically examining the relationships between the Social Vulnerability Index (SVI), failure to thrive (FTT), and healthcare utilization within the initial 30 days and first year of life.

Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on patients with a cleft palate at a tertiary care center over an 11-year period. Data included demographics, weight percentile trends, pediatric emergency department (PED) visits, hospital admissions, SVI scores, cleft palate type, and FTT diagnoses. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS.

Results: Social Vulnerability Index was not significantly correlated with health outcomes in cleft palate. Patients with FTT exhibited lower gestational age (P = .002) and birth (P = .005), one-month (P = .001), and one-year (P = .001) weight percentiles. FTT diagnosis was associated with increased PED visits (P = .000) and hospital admission (P = .000) in the first year of life. Early presentation to the PED was associated with increased PED visits (P = .000) and hospital admissions (P = .004) within the first year of life.

Conclusion: No direct link was found between SVI and FTT. Early hospital readmission emerged as a significant outcome, indicating increased healthcare utilization in patients that require early medical intervention. Failure to thrive significantly impacted healthcare utilization, emphasizing the importance of addressing feeding issues early in this patient population. This study contributes to understanding health disparities in cleft palate patients and highlights the need for nuanced exploration of regional factors influencing outcomes.