national study of more than 27,000 pediatric cardiac arrests finds that Black, Hispanic, and other minority children face significantly higher odds of dying in the hospital after receiving CPR, raising urgent concerns about racial inequities in lifesaving care.
Researchers analyzed data from the Kids’ Inpatient Database covering 1997–2019 and reported that, compared with White children, the adjusted odds of in-hospital death were 20% higher for Black children, 16% higher for Hispanic children, and 37% higher for children classified in other racial and ethnic groups. These disparities persisted across multiple models and regions.
The work highlights the profound influence of institutional factors. Children treated at hospitals with the highest proportion of Black patients—more than 30% of admissions—had 50% higher odds of dying after CPR than those treated at hospitals serving the smallest share of Black patients. The study notes that differences in hospital resources, staffing, and resuscitation practices may contribute to these gaps.
Insurance did not explain the racial differences. Publicly insured and privately insured children had similar odds of survival, but children with no insurance or other nontraditional coverage faced sharply worse outcomes.
Researchers emphasize that survival disparities in pediatric cardiac arrest mirror broader inequities in critical care. They call for deeper investigation into how hospital characteristics, neighborhood socioeconomic conditions, and systemic factors shape outcomes for minority children.
The authors conclude that ensuring access to high-quality resuscitation care “for all children is essential” and could reduce the persistent racial survival gap documented across U.S. hospitals.
See: “Race, Ethnicity, Insurance Payer, and Pediatric Cardiac Arrest Survival” (September 10, 2025)
