Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 27, 2025
Author Spotlight: Simulating Pediatric Cardiac Surgery Using a Neonatal Piglet Model
Published on: May 26, 2023
Survival Status and Predictors of Mortality Among Patients Admitted to Pediatric Intensive Care Unit at Selected
Amente Jorise Bacha1, Diriba Alemayehu Gadisa2, Mesay Dechasa Gudeta3
1Department of Pharmacy, Clinical Pharmacy Unit, Ambo University, Ambo, Ethiopia.
Insights
Pediatric intensive care in Ethiopia faces high mortality rates, with complications, sepsis, low Glasgow Coma Scale scores, and sedatives increasing risk. Mechanical ventilation, however, improved survival for critically ill children.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Intensive Care
- Critical Care Medicine
- Public Health in Developing Nations
Background:
- Advances in pediatric intensive care have improved outcomes for critically ill children.
- Ethiopia's tertiary care hospitals face challenges in managing pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) admissions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the survival status of pediatric patients admitted to PICUs in Ethiopian tertiary care hospitals.
- To identify independent predictors of mortality among these critically ill children.
Main Methods:
- A prospective observational study was conducted from October 2020 to May 2021 in a selected Ethiopian tertiary care hospital.
- Kaplan-Meier analysis and Cox regression were employed to assess survival and identify mortality predictors, respectively.
- Statistical significance was set at a P-value of <.05.
Main Results:
- The study included 206 pediatric patients, with a mortality incidence of 3.6 deaths per 100 person-days (28.6% overall mortality).
- Respiratory failure and septic shock were the leading causes of death.
- In-ICU complications, sepsis diagnosis, Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) < 8, and sedative drug use were significant predictors of increased mortality (AHR > 1).
- Mechanical ventilation was associated with a reduced risk of mortality (AHR: 0.45).
Conclusions:
- A high incidence of in-ICU mortality was observed in Ethiopian pediatric intensive care units.
- Key predictors of increased mortality include in-ICU complications, sepsis, low GCS scores, and sedative use.
- Close monitoring and management of these risk factors are crucial for improving survival rates in critically ill pediatric patients.
Background:
Advances in pediatric intensive care have dramatically improved the prognosis for critically ill patients. The study aimed to determine the survival status and predictors of mortality among patients admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit at selected tertiary care hospitals in Ethiopia.
Methods:
A health facility-based prospective observational study from October 2020 to May 30, 2021, was conducted in a selected tertiary care hospital in Ethiopia. Kaplan Meier was used to compare patient survival experiences and Cox regression was used to identify independent predictors of ICU mortality. The hazard ratio was used as a measure of the strength of the association, and a P-value of <.05 was considered to declare statistical significance.
Results:
Of 206 study participants, 59 (28.6%) patients died during follow-up time, and the incidence of mortality was 3.6 deaths per 100 person-day observation (95% CI: 2.04-5.04 deaths per 100 person-days). Respiratory failure 19 (32.2%) was the commonest cause of death followed by septic shock 11(18.6). In-ICU complications (AHR: 2.13; 95% CI: 1.02, 4.42; P = .04), sepsis diagnosis (AHR: 2.43; 95% CI: 1.24, 4.78; P = .01), GCS < 8 (AHR: 1.96; 95% CI: 1.12, 3.43; P = .02), use of sedative drugs (AHR: 2.40; 95% CI: 1.16, 4.95; P = .02) were linked with increased risk of in-ICU mortality. In contrast, the use of mechanical ventilation was associated with decreased mortality (AHR: 0.45; 95% CI: 0.21, 0.92; P = .03).
Conclusion:
The study found a high incidence of in-ICU mortality among admitted pediatric patients in selected Ethiopian tertiary care hospitals. In-ICU complications, sepsis diagnosis, GCS < 8, and patient use of sedative drugs were independent predictors of in-ICU mortality. Prudent follow-up is warranted for those patients with the aforementioned risk factors.
More Related Videos
10:38Observational Study Protocol for Repeated Clinical Examination and Critical Care Ultrasonography Within the Simple Intensive Care Studies
Published on: January 16, 2019
08:32Assessment of Intestinal Transcytosis of Neonatal Escherichia coli Bacteremia Isolates
Published on: February 17, 2023
Related Concept Videos
01:29Acute Respiratory Failure-V
Ensure that patients are monitored continuously for their response to therapy, including changes in...
01:22Acute Kidney Injury I: Introduction
01:21Acute Respiratory Failure-II
The underlying physiological abnormalities that contribute to hypoxemic respiratory failure include:
01:30Acute Kidney Injury IV: Diagnostic Studies and Prevention
01:30Acute Respiratory Failure-III
01:30Pneumonia III: Complications and Assessment