LB918 Analysis of National Inpatient Sample to Characterize Admissions for Pediatric Patients with Dystrophic Epidermolysis Bullosa

This study analyzed the National Inpatient Sample from 2015-2019 to characterize hospitalizations among pediatric patients with dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa (DEB), a rare genetic skin disorder. Out of 5,483,238 pediatric hospitalizations, 81 cases of DEB were identified. DEB patients had significantly higher rates of elective admissions (37.0% vs 5.7%), procedures during admission (22.2% vs 6.0%), and non-routine dispositions compared to non-DEB patients. They also experienced longer hospital stays and higher rates of complications such as gastroesophageal reflux disease, esophageal obstruction, and sepsis. The study highlights the need for healthcare teams to be prepared for the unique challenges of DEB to improve patient outcomes.