Evaluation of a Pediatric Early Warning Score Across Different Subspecialty Patients.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the ability of a Pediatric Early Warning Score to predict deterioration in different subspecialty patient populations. DESIGN: Single center, retrospective cohort study. Patients were classified into five groups: 1) cardiac; 2) hematology/oncology/bone marrow transplant; 3) surgical; 4) neurologic; and 5) general medical. The relationship between the Pediatric Early Warning Score and unplanned ICU transfer requiring initiation of specific ICU therapies (intubation, high-flow nasal cannula, noninvasive ventilation, inotropes, or aggressive fluid hydration within 12 hr of transfer) was evaluated. SETTING: Tertiary care, free-standing, academic children's hospital. PATIENTS: All hospitalized acute care patients admitted over a 6-month time period (September 2012 to March 2013). INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: During the study time period, 33,800 patient-days and 136 deteriorations were evaluated. Area under the curve ranged from 0.88 (surgical) to 0.94 (cardiac). Sensitivities for a Pediatric Early Warning Score greater than or equal to 3 ranged from 75% (surgical) to 94% (cardiology) and number needed to evaluate to find one deterioration was 11.5 (neurologic) to 43 patients (surgical). Sensitivities for a Pediatric Early Warning Score greater than or equal to 4 ranged from 54% (general medical) to 79% (hematology/oncology/bone marrow transplant) and number needed to evaluate of 5.5 (neurologic) to 12 patients (general medical). Sensitivities for a Pediatric Early Warning Score of greater than or equal to 5 ranged from 25% (surgical) to 58% (hematology/oncology/bone marrow transplant) and number needed to evaluate of 3.5 (cardiac, hematology/oncology/bone marrow transplant, neurologic) to eight patients (surgical). CONCLUSIONS: An elevated Pediatric Early Warning Score is associated with ICU transfer and receipt of ICU-specific interventions in patients across different pediatric subspecialty patient populations.

Religiousness and major depression among bereaved family caregivers: a 13-month follow-up study.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the association between a multi-item measure of religiousness and major depressive disorder (MDD) in bereaved family caregivers of patients with cancer. DESIGN: A prospective longitudinal study of primary caregivers of consecutive patients (n = 175) with cancer enrolled in the largest hospice in Connecticut. RESULTS: Caregivers with a high religiousness summary score were significantly less likely to have MDD at the 13-month follow-up interview (OR = 0.79, 95% CI: 0.68-0.91). This finding remained significant (OR = 0.74, 95% CI: 0.59-0.91) after adjustment for caregiver MDD at baseline, caregiver age, caregiver burden, and number of activities restricted due to caregiving roles. CONCLUSIONS: Family caregivers who reported greater religiousness at baseline had lower rates of depression in the 13-month follow up after their loss. Collaboration with religious support groups or community groups during bereavement could offer an effective mechanism for speeding the process of recovery for some caregivers.

Comparison of Pediatric Early Warning Score to Physician Opinion for Deteriorating Patients.

BACKGROUND: This study compares a Pediatric Early Warning Score (PEWS) to physician opinion in identifying patients at risk for deterioration. METHODS: Maximum PEWS recorded during each admission was retrospectively ascertained from electronic medical record data. Physician opinion regarding risk of subsequent deterioration was determined by assignment to an institutional "senior sign-out" (SSO) list that highlights patients whom senior pediatric residents have identified as at risk. Deterioration events were defined as intubation, initiation of high flow nasal cannula, inotropes, noninvasive mechanical ventilation, or aggressive fluid resuscitation within 12 hours of transfer to the PICU. We assessed the relationships of sociodemographic variables, PEWS, and SSO assignment with subsequent deterioration events using multivariate regression analysis to control for a number of covariates. RESULTS: There were 97 patients with nonelective transfers to the PICU who were eligible for placement on the SSO lists before transfer, 51 of whom experienced qualifying deterioration events. Maximum recorded PEWS was significantly higher for patients with a subsequent deterioration event during the first 12 hours after transfer, compared with those who were transferred but did not experience a deterioration event in the first 12 hours (mean [SD]: 3.9 [2.0] vs 2.9 [2.0]; P = .01). This association persisted even after multivariate adjustment. SSO assignment was only marginally associated with risk of deterioration among this patient population, with or without adjustment for covariates. CONCLUSIONS: The PEWS was significantly associated with ICU deterioration, whereas physician opinion was not. Used alone or in conjunction with physician assessment, PEWS is a valuable tool for identifying patients vulnerable to acute deterioration.