Extreme Temperatures and Missed Pediatric Preventive Care Visits

Are extreme outdoor temperatures associated with rates of missed pediatric preventive care visits?In this cross-sectional study of 4 137 542 pediatric visits in a large primary care network, each 1 °F decrease below 41.5 °F in cold months and 1 °F increase above 88.0 °F in warm months was associated with a higher rate of missed visits. During cold months, rates of missed visits were higher among children who were younger, commercially insured, and from high socioeconomic status neighborhoods.Extreme temperatures were associated with missed pediatric preventive care with differential associations across subgroups, suggesting a need for targeted interventions during temperature extremes.

Corresponding Author: Stephanie L. Mayne, PhD, MHS, Clinical Futures, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, 2716 South St, 10-471, Philadelphia, PA 19146 (maynes@chop.edu).

Link to the article in your story

We encourage you to link out to this article in your story using the link below. It includes an access token that will give free access to the article for your readers up to one year after publication. (The link will be live after the article publishes and embargo is lifted.)

Please see the article for additional information, including full author list, author contributions and affiliations, conflict of interest and financial disclosures, and funding and support.

Need more information? Contact us.