Association between Air Pollution, Neighborhood Opportunity, and Pediatric Intensive Care Unit Admissions in Acute Respiratory Illness

This retrospective study examined 673 children admitted to a single pediatric intensive care unit for associations between particulate matter ≤2.5 microns (PM2.5) exposure, neighborhood deprivation, and pediatric intensive care unit length of stay (LOS) for acute respiratory illness. Higher PM2.5 was associated with longer LOS, especially during respiratory season. Child Opportunity Index was not independently associated with LOS, but inclusion of this marker strengthened the association between PM2.5 and LOS.