Mortality in Pediatric Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

OBJECTIVE: Sparse and conflicting evidence exists regarding mortality risk from pediatric acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). We aimed to determine the pooled mortality in pediatric ARDS and to describe its trend over time. DATA SOURCES AND STUDY SELECTION: MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Web of Science were searched from 1960 to August 2015. Keywords or medical subject headings (MESH) terms used included "respiratory distress syndrome, adult," "acute lung injury," "acute respiratory insufficiency," "acute hypoxemic respiratory failure," "pediatrics," and "child." Study inclusion criteria were (1) pediatric patients aged 0 days to 18 years, (2) sufficient baseline data described in the pediatric ARDS group, and (3) mortality data. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and prospective observational studies were eligible. DATA EXTRACTION AND SYNTHESIS: Data on study characteristics, patient demographics, measures of oxygenation, and mortality were extracted using a standard data extraction form. Independent authors conducted the search, applied the selection criteria, and extracted the data. Methodological quality of studies was assessed. Meta-analysis using a random-effects model was performed to obtain pooled estimates of mortality. Meta-regression was performed to analyze variables contributing to change in mortality over time. Eight RCTs and 21 observational studies (n = 2274 patients) were included. Pooled mortality rate was 24% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 19-31). There was a decrease in mortality rates over 3 epochs (≤2000, 2001-2009, and ≥2010: 40% [95% CI: 24-59], 35% [95% CI: 21-51], and 18% [95% CI: 12-26], respectively, P < .001). Observational studies reported a higher mortality rate than RCTs (27% [95% CI: 24-29] versus 16% [95% CI: 12-20], P < .001). Earlier year of publication was an independent factor associated with mortality. CONCLUSION: Overall mortality rate in pediatric ARDS is approximately 24%. Studies conducted and published later were associated with better survival.

Risk factors for mortality in children with pneumonia admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit.

AIMS: To describe the epidemiology of children with severe pneumonia and identify risk factors for poor outcomes. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study of children admitted to pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) from 2010 to 2014 with a diagnosis of pneumonia. Clinical microbiological, ventilation and other pertinent PICU data were collected. Primary outcome was PICU mortality. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression model were used to identify risk factors for mortality. RESULTS: Severe pneumonia consisted of 237/3539 (6.7%) of PICU admissions. Of these, 162/237 (68.4%) required mechanical ventilation. 32/237 (13.5%) patients died. The majority of patients had no organisms identified 82/237 (34.6%). A sole bacterial or viral pathogen was identified in 48/237 (20.1%) and 41/237 (17.9%) patients, respectively. Patients with viral pneumonias were more likely to develop acute respiratory distress syndrome compared to other etiologies (7/41[17.1%] vs 8/196 [4.0%]; P = 0.006). Bacterial pneumonias were associated with lung abscess (4/48 [8.3%] vs 2/189 [1.5%]; P = 0.016) and necrotizing pneumonia (18/48 [37.5%] vs 15/189 [7.9%]; P < 0.001) compared to other etiologies. Co-detections (>1 respiratory pathogens isolated) occurred in 62/237 (26.2%) patients and were associated a higher rate of mechanical ventilation, and decreased ventilator and PICU free days. After adjusting for severity of illness, risk factors for mortality were: hospital acquired pneumonia (HAP) (aOR: 2.92 [95%CI 1.15, 7.40]; P = 0.024) and bacteremia (aOR: 5.03 [95%CI 1.77, 14.35]; P = 0.003). CONCLUSIONS: Severe pediatric pneumonia accounts for a significant number of PICU admissions and is associated with significant mortality risk. The presence of co-morbidities, HAP and bacteremia were early prognostic variables independently associated with poor clinical outcomes.