Hospital stays may leave some pediatric cancer caregivers short on food
Wake Forest researchers found food insecurity during a child's cancer or blood disorder hospitalization was tied to longer stays and more readmissions.
By Tom Brennan · Health & Medicine Correspondent
3 min read
Caregivers of children hospitalized for cancer and blood disorders can struggle to get enough food during a child’s inpatient stay, even when they do not report food insecurity at home, according to researchers at Wake Forest University School of Medicine. The finding points to a practical stressor that may be associated with longer hospitalizations and more returns to the hospital after discharge.
The study, published this spring in Pediatric Blood & Cancer, focused on what the researchers call inpatient food insecurity. That means families lack reliable access to food while a child is in the hospital, a period that can bring lost wages, travel costs and other expenses beyond medical bills, according to Wake Forest.
Joanna Robles, an assistant professor of pediatric hematology and oncology at Wake Forest University School of Medicine, said the research found that some caregivers who were not food insecure at home had difficulty obtaining food during the hospitalization. She said the financial strain of a child’s hospital stay can extend beyond treatment costs.
The researchers reviewed survey responses from more than 300 caregivers whose children were hospitalized in 2022 and 2023 at Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Brenner Children’s Hospital. Among caregivers of children admitted to pediatric hematology-oncology units, nearly one in five reported food insecurity during the hospital stay, according to the study.
Most caregivers who reported inpatient food insecurity did not describe the same problem outside the hospital. Wake Forest said more than 70% of those caregivers reported that they were not food insecure at home.
The study also found differences in hospital outcomes. Children whose caregivers reported inpatient food insecurity had hospital stays that were about one-third longer on average than children whose caregivers did not report it, according to the researchers. The study also found higher 30-day readmission rates among those children.
Robles said the findings support asking families about food access during a child’s stay, not only before or outside hospitalization. She said hospitals should be prepared to offer timely support, including meals or financial help, when screening identifies a need.
Wake Forest said more research is needed to understand how inpatient food insecurity affects clinical outcomes and whether targeted services can shorten hospital stays or reduce readmissions. Robles cited possible supports such as caregiver meal assistance, transportation help and broader financial screening.
At Brenner Children’s Hospital, Wake Forest said families who need help can receive three free hot meals a day while their child is hospitalized. The hospital also has a 24-hour food pantry stocked with shelf-stable items and refers families to state and federal assistance programs, with onsite application help available.
The study was led by Robles and colleagues under the title “Inpatient Food Insecurity and Pediatric Hematology Oncology Hospitalization Outcomes,” according to Pediatric Blood & Cancer.
This story draws on original reporting from Medical Xpress.