Medical Complexity Seen in 12 Percent of Military-Connected Children
By Elana Gotkine HealthDay Reporter
FRIDAY, April 11, 2025 -- The cumulative incidence of children with medical complexity (CMC)-defining diagnoses in military-connected children is 12.0 percent by age 60 months, according to a study published online April 8 in Pediatrics.
JoAnna K. Leyenaar, M.D., Ph.D., M.P.H., from Dartmouth Health Children's in Lebanon, New Hampshire, and colleagues identified CMC born between 2005 and 2015 and diagnosed from birth until age 60 months. The cumulative incidence of medical complexity was estimated and associations between birth outcomes and CMC-defining diagnoses were calculated.
The researchers found that the estimated cumulative incidence of CMC-defining diagnoses by age 60 months was 12.0 percent among 975,233 live births, with one-third and two-thirds diagnosed during the neonatal period and during infancy, respectively. The highest risks were seen for children born with versus without congenital anomalies, those born very preterm versus nonpreterm, and those with very low birthweight versus normal/high birthweight (adjusted hazard ratios, 25.2, 17.6, and 13.7, respectively).
"Although preterm birth, low birthweight, and congenital anomalies were strong risk factors for medical complexity, most CMC identified in this study did not experience these birth outcomes," the authors write. "These results provide valuable data to justify early intervention services as well as other programs and policies that support health care access, regularly scheduled health assessments, and care coordination for military-connected children."
Abstract/Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.
© 2025 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
Posted April 2025
Read this next
Planned C-Section May Be Tied to Increased Risk for Leukemia in Offspring
MONDAY, July 7, 2025 -- Children born by planned cesarean section (CS) may have an elevated risk for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), which is driven by B-cell precursor ALL...
Long-Term Stroke Risk Higher for Women With Pregnancy Complications
THURSDAY, July 3, 2025 -- Women who experience five major adverse pregnancy outcomes have a higher long-term stroke risk, according to a study published online June 23 in the...
Arsenic Less Than EPA Maximum Contaminant Level Tied to Adverse Birth Outcomes
THURSDAY, June 26, 2025 -- Arsenic measured in public water systems at levels below the current U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's maximum contaminant level are associated...
More news resources
- FDA Medwatch Drug Alerts
- Daily MedNews
- News for Health Professionals
- New Drug Approvals
- New Drug Applications
- Drug Shortages
- Clinical Trial Results
- Generic Drug Approvals
Subscribe to our newsletter
Whatever your topic of interest, subscribe to our newsletters to get the best of Drugs.com in your inbox.