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National hospitalization trends for pediatric pneumonia and associated complications

Grace E Lee1, Scott A Lorch, Seth Sheffler-Collins

  • 1Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Division of General Padiatrics, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.

Pediatrics
|July 21, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Pediatric community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) hospitalizations remained stable overall, but local complication rates increased significantly across all age groups after PCV7 vaccine introduction. Systemic complications decreased only in infants.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric infectious diseases
  • Public health surveillance
  • Vaccinology

Background:

  • Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is a leading cause of childhood hospitalization.
  • The introduction of the heptavalent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV7) aimed to reduce pneumococcal disease burden.
  • Understanding trends in CAP and its complications is crucial for public health strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To analyze hospitalization rates and trends for pediatric CAP.
  • To assess changes in CAP-associated systemic and local complications post-PCV7 introduction.
  • To identify age-specific trends in CAP hospitalizations and complications.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective cohort study using the Kids' Inpatient Database (1997-2006).
  • Analysis of national estimates for CAP and associated complications in children aged <= 18 years.
  • Exclusion of patients with comorbidities or in-hospital birth status; comparison of pre-PCV7 (1997) and post-PCV7 (2006) data.

Main Results:

  • Overall CAP hospitalization rates showed no substantial change between 1997 and 2006.
  • A 22% decrease in CAP hospitalizations was observed for infants (<1 year), with increases in older children (6-12 years: 22%, >=13 years: 41%).
  • Systemic complication rates decreased by 36% in infants but remained stable in other age groups, while local complication rates increased by 78% overall.

Conclusions:

  • PCV7 introduction was associated with decreased systemic complications only in children <1 year.
  • Pediatric CAP-associated local complications are rising across all age demographics.
  • Ongoing surveillance is necessary to monitor evolving trends in pediatric CAP and its management.
Abstract

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