Incidence of morbidity and associated factors in a Pediatric Intensive Care Unit

Area of Science:

• Pediatric critical care medicine
• Clinical epidemiology
• Patient outcomes research

Background:

• Acquired morbidity in pediatric intensive care units (PICU) poses a significant challenge to patient recovery and long-term health.
• The Functional Status Scale (FSS) is a validated tool for assessing acquired morbidity in pediatric populations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the incidence of acquired morbidity in a PICU cohort.
• To identify factors associated with acquired morbidity.
• To describe the functional status of patients post-discharge.

Main Methods:

• A prospective cohort study was conducted involving all PICU admissions over a one-year period.
• The Functional Status Scale (FSS) was utilized to measure morbidity during hospitalization and up to one year post-discharge.
• Univariate analysis was performed to identify associations between morbidity and various clinical factors.

Main Results:

• The incidence of acquired morbidity in the PICU was 3.56%, with a lower rate of 0.7% at hospital discharge.
• Factors significantly associated with PICU morbidity included younger age (<1 year), higher PIM2 scores, use of assisted mechanical ventilation (AMV), central venous catheter (CVC) insertion, and prolonged hospital stays.
• Functional status improved in a majority of patients within one year post-discharge.

Conclusions:

• The incidence of acquired morbidity in the PICU is substantial, linked to patient age, severity of illness, and specific medical interventions.
• Early identification and management of risk factors such as AMV and CVC use are crucial for reducing morbidity.
• The findings underscore the importance of ongoing functional status assessment post-discharge.