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Pediatric post-discharge mortality in resource poor countries: a systematic review
Matthew O Wiens1, Shane Pawluk, Niranjan Kissoon
1Department of Pediatrics, Mbarara University of Science and Technology, Mbarara, Uganda. mowiens@outlook.com
Plos One
|July 5, 2013
Summary
Child mortality after hospital discharge is a significant concern in developing nations. Key risk factors include young age, malnutrition, and infections like pneumonia and HIV.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Health
- Global Health
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Post-hospital discharge mortality is an under-recognized factor in child mortality in developing countries.
- Identifying children at high risk after discharge is crucial for targeted interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically review studies on pediatric post-discharge mortality.
- To estimate the likelihood of death after hospital discharge.
- To identify key risk factors for mortality in this population.
Main Methods:
- Systematic literature search of MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Google Scholar.
- Inclusion of studies from developing countries reporting pediatric post-discharge mortality.
- Analysis of baseline variables associated with mortality.
Main Results:
- Thirteen studies reported significant variation in post-discharge mortality rates (1%-18%).
- Post-discharge mortality often exceeded in-hospital mortality.
- Young age, malnutrition, prior hospitalizations, HIV, and pneumonia were major risk factors.
Conclusions:
- The period following hospital discharge presents substantial risks for child morbidity and mortality.
- Validated tools for identifying high-risk children are lacking.
- Future research should focus on developing risk-assessment tools and evaluating interventions.
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