Do all children receive equal care in the PICU? This scoping review highlights the persistent health disparities among patients in pediatric intensive care units (PICUs) in the United States. The study analyzes 136 studies, revealing variable methodologies in data collection and analysis of sociodemographic factors. It seeks to improve understanding of health inequities in the PICU, requiring stated objective to evaluate disparities aimed to increase the methodologic rigor of included studies but excluded some available literature. Racial disparities were assessed in 124 studies, with only 24% using self- or parent-identified race. Socioeconomic status (SES) indicators also varied. The 136 studies included used variable methods of sociodemographic data collection and analysis. More than half of the studies (52%) dichotomized race as white and “nonwhite” or “other” in some analyses. Socioeconomic status (SES) indicators also varied; only insurance status was used in a majority of studies (72%) evaluating SES. Consistent, although not uniform, disadvantages existed for racial minority populations and patients with indicators of lower SES. The authors of only 1 study evaluated an intervention intended to mitigate health disparities. The review concludes that flawed methodologies hinder a comprehensive understanding of disparities in the PICU. There are limitations, such as requiring a stated objective to evaluate disparities aimed to increase the methodologic rigor of included studies but excluded some available literature. Refining data collection, analysis, and interpretation is crucial for addressing health inequities and ensuring equitable care for all children. More research is required to meaningfully understand the health inequity in the PICU.
Published in _Pediatrics_, this scoping review is highly relevant to the journal's focus on child health. The paper assesses the current understanding of sociodemographic disparities among PICU patients. It underscores the need for improved methodologies in data collection and analysis, contributing to the journal's mission of advancing pediatric care.