Impact of telemedicine on mortality, hospital admissions, and length of stay in pediatric emergencies: a systematic review and meta- analysis
Dublin Core
Title
Impact of telemedicine on mortality, hospital admissions, and length of stay in pediatric emergencies: a systematic review and meta- analysis
Subject
Telemedicine, Pediatric, Emergency, Admission, Mortality, Meta-analysis
Description
Abstract
Background Pediatric emergencies pose significant challenges in healthcare. Telemedicine offers a promising
solution by enabling remote assessments, improving specialist access, reducing unnecessary ER visits and admissions,
optimizing resources, and enhancing patient satisfaction. This systematic review and meta-analysis uniquely aimed to
quantify the effect of telemedicine on key outcomes in pediatric emergency and post-emergency care.
Methods We searched PubMed, Scopus, the Cochrane Library, and Web of Science to identify studies focusing on
the impact of telemedicine in pediatric emergency settings. Both single- and double-arm studies were included.
Statistical analysis was performed using RevMan and CMA software, with a random-effects model applied to all
analyses. We assessed differences in admissions, hospital length of stay (LOS), and mortality. Event rates were
calculated for single-arm analyses, and risk ratios and mean differences were used for dichotomous and continuous
outcomes in double-arm analyses.
Results A total of 23 studies were included. Telemedicine significantly reduced hospital LOS (MD = -1.01, 95% CI:
-1.3 to -0.71) and overall mortality (RR=0.17, 95% CI: 0.13 to 0.24). The admission rates to the emergency department,
hospital ward, and pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) were comparable between both groups. Single-arm analysis
revealed that telemedicine was associated with an ED admission rate of 18% (95% CI: 5.2–47%), a hospital ward
admission rate of 16.7% (95% CI: 4.6–45.7%), and a pooled mortality rate of 1.8% (95% CI: 1–3.3%).
Conclusions Telemedicine appears to be an effective tool in pediatric emergency care. While our analysis suggests
reductions in hospital length of stay and mortality, these findings should be interpreted with caution due to variability
and potential confounding across studies. The impact on admission rates remains inconclusive. Nonetheless,
telemedicine offers a promising approach to enhancing healthcare delivery and optimizing resource use in pediatric
emergency and early post-emergency settings.
Keywords Telemedicine, Pediatric, Emergency, Admission, Mortality, Meta-analysis
Background Pediatric emergencies pose significant challenges in healthcare. Telemedicine offers a promising
solution by enabling remote assessments, improving specialist access, reducing unnecessary ER visits and admissions,
optimizing resources, and enhancing patient satisfaction. This systematic review and meta-analysis uniquely aimed to
quantify the effect of telemedicine on key outcomes in pediatric emergency and post-emergency care.
Methods We searched PubMed, Scopus, the Cochrane Library, and Web of Science to identify studies focusing on
the impact of telemedicine in pediatric emergency settings. Both single- and double-arm studies were included.
Statistical analysis was performed using RevMan and CMA software, with a random-effects model applied to all
analyses. We assessed differences in admissions, hospital length of stay (LOS), and mortality. Event rates were
calculated for single-arm analyses, and risk ratios and mean differences were used for dichotomous and continuous
outcomes in double-arm analyses.
Results A total of 23 studies were included. Telemedicine significantly reduced hospital LOS (MD = -1.01, 95% CI:
-1.3 to -0.71) and overall mortality (RR=0.17, 95% CI: 0.13 to 0.24). The admission rates to the emergency department,
hospital ward, and pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) were comparable between both groups. Single-arm analysis
revealed that telemedicine was associated with an ED admission rate of 18% (95% CI: 5.2–47%), a hospital ward
admission rate of 16.7% (95% CI: 4.6–45.7%), and a pooled mortality rate of 1.8% (95% CI: 1–3.3%).
Conclusions Telemedicine appears to be an effective tool in pediatric emergency care. While our analysis suggests
reductions in hospital length of stay and mortality, these findings should be interpreted with caution due to variability
and potential confounding across studies. The impact on admission rates remains inconclusive. Nonetheless,
telemedicine offers a promising approach to enhancing healthcare delivery and optimizing resource use in pediatric
emergency and early post-emergency settings.
Keywords Telemedicine, Pediatric, Emergency, Admission, Mortality, Meta-analysis
Creator
Amani N. Alansari1* , Mohamed Sayed Zaazouee2 , Marwa Messaoud3,4,5 , Salma Mani3 ,
Alaa Ahmed Elshanbary6 and Hanan Youssif Mohamed7
Alaa Ahmed Elshanbary6 and Hanan Youssif Mohamed7
Date
2025
Contributor
Peri Irawan
Format
pdf
Language
english
Type
text
Files
Collection
Citation
Amani N. Alansari1* , Mohamed Sayed Zaazouee2 , Marwa Messaoud3,4,5 , Salma Mani3 ,
Alaa Ahmed Elshanbary6 and Hanan Youssif Mohamed7, “Impact of telemedicine on mortality, hospital admissions, and length of stay in pediatric emergencies: a systematic review and meta- analysis,” Repository Horizon University Indonesia, accessed April 18, 2026, https://repository.horizon.ac.id/items/show/13264.