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Published on: April 21, 2017
Pediatric stroke: clinical characteristics, acute care utilization patterns, and mortality
Kimberly D Statler1, Li Dong, Denise M Nielsen
1Department of Pediatrics, University of Utah, PO Box 2581289, 295 Chipeta Way, Salt Lake City, UT 84158, USA. kim.statler@hsc.utah.edu
Insights
Acute care for pediatric stroke shows similar utilization by stroke type, but Children's Hospitals provide more intensive and aggressive treatments. Despite this, in-hospital mortality for pediatric stroke remains high.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Neurology
- Healthcare Utilization Research
- Clinical Informatics
Background:
- Acute care patterns for pediatric stroke are not well-defined, hindering effective care coordination and treatment strategies.
- Understanding these patterns is crucial for improving outcomes in children with stroke.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe demographics and clinical characteristics of pediatric stroke patients.
- To compare acute care utilization between hemorrhagic and ischemic stroke, and between Children's and non-Children's Hospitals.
- To identify factors linked to aggressive care and in-hospital mortality.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective cohort analysis of the Kids Inpatient Database for children hospitalized with stroke.
- Comparison of demographics, predisposing conditions, and intensive/aggressive care by stroke and hospital type.
- Logistic regression to identify factors associated with aggressive care and in-hospital mortality.
Main Results:
- Hemorrhagic stroke (43%) was more common in younger children and had higher mortality. Ischemic stroke was more frequent in older children with predisposing conditions.
- Intensive (30%) and aggressive (15%) care rates were low, similar by stroke type, but higher at Children's Hospitals.
- Aggressive care was associated with older age, hemorrhagic stroke, predisposing conditions, and Children's Hospital treatment. Hemorrhagic stroke and aggressive care correlated with in-hospital mortality.
Conclusions:
- Acute care utilization for pediatric stroke is similar across stroke types, yet intensive and aggressive care are more prevalent in Children's Hospitals.
- In-hospital mortality rates for pediatric stroke remain concerningly high.
- Adopting established treatment guidelines, similar to adult stroke care, may standardize treatment and improve outcomes for pediatric stroke patients.
Purpose:
Acute care utilization patterns are not well described but may help inform care coordination and treatment for pediatric stroke. The Kids Inpatient Database was queried to describe demographics and clinical characteristics of children with stroke, compare acute care utilization for hemorrhagic vs. ischemic stroke and Children's vs. non-Children's Hospitals, and identify factors associated with aggressive care and in-hospital mortality.
Methods:
Using a retrospective cohort of children hospitalized with stroke, demographics, predisposing conditions, and intensive (mechanical ventilation, advanced monitoring, and blood product administration) or aggressive (pharmacological therapy and/or invasive interventions) care were compared by stroke and hospital types. Factors associated with aggressive care or in-hospital mortality were explored using logistic regression.
Results:
Hemorrhagic stroke comprised 43% of stroke discharges, was more common in younger children, and carried greater mortality. Ischemic stroke was more common in older children and more frequently associated with a predisposing condition. Rates of intensive and aggressive care were low (30% and 15%), similar by stroke type, and greater at Children's Hospitals. Older age, hemorrhagic stroke, predisposing condition, and treatment at a Children's Hospital were associated with aggressive care. Hemorrhagic stroke and aggressive care were associated with in-hospital mortality.
Conclusions:
Acute care utilization is similar by stroke type but both intensive and aggressive care are more common at Children's Hospitals. Mortality remains relatively high after pediatric stroke. Widespread implementation of treatment guidelines improved outcomes in adult stroke. Adoption of recently published treatment recommendations for pediatric stroke may help standardize care and improve outcomes.
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