Care transition from a pediatric intestinal rehabilitation program to adult care and the risk of all-cause mortality: A retrospective cohort study

Cincinnati Children's intestinal rehabilitation team tracked 46 patients who turned 20 to examine outcomes when they transitioned to adult healthcare centers or continued pediatric care

59% of patients transitioned to adult focused programs while the rest continued receiving care at Cincinnati Children's

Patients who transitioned to adult care had a significantly higher mortality rate of 33% compared to 5% among those who stayed in pediatric care

Patients who transitioned to adult care showed no obvious differences in medical complexity or disease burden compared to those who remained in pediatric care

The median time from transition to death was approximately 12 months

Young adults with a history of intestinal failure aging out of pediatric care remain a critically vulnerable population in need of greater attention and support until structured transition programs are developed and widely implemented