LAUSR

Key Points Question Using appendicitis as a case study, are neighborhood-level social determinants of health associated with access to pediatric surgical care? Findings In this cohort study including 67 489 children, after controlling for patient-level social determinants of health, children from lower-opportunity neighborhoods had 5% to 28% increased odds of presenting with complicated appendicitis, an indicator of delayed access, compared with those from higher-opportunity neighborhoods. There was no significant difference in unplanned postdischarge health care use based on neighborhood opportunity level. Meaning The findings of this cohort study may inform policies and programs that seek to improve access and disparities in pediatric surgical care.