Preventive care and medical homes among US children with heart conditions

Abstract

Within a medical home, primary care providers can identify needs, provide services, and coordinate care for children with heart conditions. Using parent-reported data from the 2016–2017 National Survey of Children’s Health, we examined receipt of preventive care in the last 12 months and having a medical home (care that is accessible, continuous, comprehensive, family-centred, coordinated, compassionate, and culturally effective) among US children aged 0–17 years with and without heart conditions. Using the marginal predictions approach to multivariable logistic regression, we examined associations between presence of a heart condition and receipt of preventive care and having a medical home. Among children with heart conditions, we evaluated associations between sociodemographic and health characteristics and receipt of preventive care and having a medical home. Of the 66,971 children included, 2.2% had heart conditions. Receipt of preventive care was reported for more children with heart conditions (91.0%) than without (82.7%) (adjusted prevalence ratio = 1.09, 95% confidence interval: 1.05–1.13). Less than half of children with heart conditions (48.2%) and without (49.5%) had a medical home (adjusted prevalence ratio = 1.02, 95% confidence interval: 0.91–1.14). For children with heart conditions, preventive care was slightly more common among younger children and less common among those with family incomes 200–399% of the federal poverty level. Having a medical home was less common among younger children, non-Hispanic “other” race, and those with ≥2 other health conditions. Most children with heart conditions received preventive care, but less than half had a medical home, with disparities by age, socioeconomic status, race, and concurrent health conditions. These findings highlight opportunities to improve care for children with heart conditions.