Disparities in ethnicity
The association between ethnicity and outcomes in children has been previously described in the literature, with conflicting outcomes. Although few studies demonstrate no correlation between race or ethnicity and outcomes at the PICU15,41, the majority shows the opposite. In addition, previous studies conducted in the United States and United Kingdom have also shown a higher risk of mortality in critically ill pediatric patients from several ethnic groups (especially Asian) admitted to the PICU36,42. In this review three studies were described on the association between race or ethnicity and pediatric outcomes in childhood respiratory diseases. It was found that African American children with asthma were significant more likely to be admitted and intubated35,37, Asian/ Asian British children with an influenza infection had a higher chance of mortality36, and South Asian babies with a respiratory failure had a significantly higher rate of mortality28. These conflicting results may be explained by the fact that the minorities were underrepresented, and the data entry of ethnicity was not always complete15,41.