Risk Factors and Laboratory Findings Associated With Diabetic Ketoacidosis in Hospitalized Pediatric Patients.

BACKGROUND: Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), the most serious and acute complication of type 1 diabetes, has an incidence of 6%-8% among known pediatric type 1 diabetes patients, although risk factors associated with severe DKA in the pediatric population are poorly understood [1]. METHOD: A single-institution, retrospective chart analysis of pediatric DKA patients admitted to our pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) was conducted in South Alabama between October 2017 and April 2021. Laboratory findings were obtained from venous samples collected from the patients on admission. RESULTS: Of 429 admissions, 256 unique patients were admitted with DKA to PICU during the 3.5-year period; 55.9% of them were males. The median (IQR) age of the patients was 12 (10-15) years, and their median HbA1c level was 11.02 (10%-12%), which was similar to Medicaid and private insurance statistics (11.1 [9.87-12.2] vs 11 [9.65-12], p = 0.4). Serum pH on presentation was 7.17 (7.08-7.25), and serum bicarbonate was 10 (7-14) mmol/L. White blood cell (WBC) count, platelet count, and mean platelet volume (MPV) had a negative correlation with serum pH (r = -0.52, p < 0.001, r = -0.25, p = 0.01 and r = -0.11, p = 0.03, respectively). The blood urea nitrogen (BUN):creatinine ratio had a positive correlation with serum pH (r = 0.16, p < 0.001). Twenty-nine admissions (6.8%) with a median age of 16 (13-17) years required imaging for altered mental status, and none of these patients were diagnosed with cerebral edema. CONCLUSION: DKA is associated with noncompliance among pediatric patients, irrespective of their type of insurance. Markers of oxidative stress (WBC, platelets, and MPV) were associated with increased severity of DKA. The BUN:creatinine ratio may not provide accurate hydration status among DKA patients. Clinicians need to have a lower threshold for head imaging among younger patients.

Severe liver dysfunction in a toddler receiving nonprescription phytocannabinoid.

BACKGROUND: Nonprescription cannabis products are becoming widely available and being promoted for various health conditions. Safety profile of these products apart from psychoactive effects has not been studied and published well. Liver dysfunction is well described in literature with high doses of recreational tetrahydrocannabinol and cannabidiol products but not with nonprescription phytocannabinoids products used for various medicinal values. CASE SUMMARY: A 2-year-old unimmunized male with infantile spasms and refractory seizures, managed with clobazam and zonisamide, presented for respiratory illness and incidentally diagnosed with severe liver dysfunction with elevated coagulation markers. He did not manifest any clinical signs of liver failure. On further review, it was found that parents were using nonprescription phytocannabinoids (hemp extract) for his neurological condition. He required supportive care for his liver dysfunction, and liver enzymes down trended gradually after holding his phytocannabinoid products. The World Health Organization-Uppsala Monitoring Centre approach puts the presentation as probable/likely category of adverse reaction for liver dysfunction with phytocannabinoid ingestion. PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: The case we present shows the detrimental effects of over-the-counter phytocannabinoid products, which could point toward the role of phytocannabinoids in this pathophysiology. The case highlights the importance of awareness of potential life-threatening consequences of these products and educating the patient and the caregivers of these risks. The case also emphasizes the need for serial liver enzymes monitoring for patients receiving these therapies as well as extensive research focusing on safety profile of these products in terms of different organ system affection other than their psychoactive potential.

Demographics and Risk Factors of Pediatric Pulmonary Hypertension Readmissions.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Pulmonary hypertension (PH) leads to significant morbidity and mortality in pediatric patients and increases the readmission rates for hospitalizations. This study evaluates the risk factors and comorbidities associated with an increase in 30-day readmissions among pediatric PH patients. METHODS: National Readmission Database (NRD) 2017 was searched for patients less than 18 years of age who were diagnosed with PH based on the International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision (ICD-10). Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software v25.0 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY) was used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: Of 5.52 million pediatric encounters, 10,501 patients met the selection criteria. The 30-day readmission rate of 14.43% (p < 0.001) was higher than hospitalizations from other causes {Odds Ratio (OR) 4.02 (3.84-4.20), p < 0.001}. The comorbidities of sepsis {OR 0.75 (0.64-0.89), p < 0.02} and respiratory infections {OR 0.75 (0.67-0.85), p < 0.001} were observed to be associated with lower 30-day readmissions. Patients who required invasive mechanical ventilation via endotracheal tube {OR 1.66 (1.4-1.96), p < 0.001} or tracheostomy tube {OR 1.35 (1.15-1.6), p < 0.001} had increased unplanned readmissions. Patients with higher severity of illness based on All Patients Refined Diagnosis Related Groups (APR-DRG) were more likely to get readmitted {OR 7.66 (3.13-18.76), p < 0.001}. CONCLUSION: PH was associated with increased readmission rates compared to the other pediatric diagnoses, but the readmission rate in this study was lower than one previous pediatric study. Invasive mechanical ventilation, Medicaid insurance, higher severity of illness, and female gender were associated with a higher likelihood of readmission within 30 days.

Risk Factors, Trends, and Preventive Measures for 30-Day Unplanned Diabetic Ketoacidosis Readmissions in the Pediatric Population.

Background There has been a steady rise in types 1 and 2 diabetes mellitus among the youth in the USA from 2001 to 2017. Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is a common and preventable presentation of both types of diabetes mellitus. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) United States Diabetes Surveillance System, during 2004-2019 an increase in DKA hospitalization rates by 59.4% was noted, with people aged less than 45 years having the highest rates. Readmissions reflect the quality of disease management, which is integrally tied to care coordination and communication with the patient and their families. This study analyzes the trends and risk factors contributing to 30-day unplanned DKA readmissions in the pediatric age group and looks into possible preventive measures to decrease them. Methods A retrospective study was performed using the National Readmission Database (NRD) from January 1, 2017, to December 1, 2017. Pediatric patients aged 18 years and younger with the primary diagnosis of DKA were included using the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-10-CM) code E10.10. All statistical analysis was performed using IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, version 1.0.0.1327 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA). Pearson's chi-square test was used for categorical variables and Mann-Whitney U test was used for continuous variables. To independently determine the predictors of readmission within each clinical variable, multiple logistic regressions with values presented as odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were performed. Results A weighted total of 19,519 DKA-related pediatric index admissions were identified from the 2017 NRD. Of these pediatric patients, 831 (4.3%) had 30-day DKA readmission. The median age of a child for readmission was 16 years with an interquartile range of 0 to 18 years. A sharp rise in 30-day DKA readmissions was noted for ages 16 years and over. Females in the 0-25th percentile median household income category, with Medicaid covered, large metropolitan areas with at least 1 million residents, and metropolitan teaching hospitals were found to have a statistically significant higher percentage of readmissions. The mean length of stay for those who had a DKA readmission was 2.06 days, with a standard deviation of 1.84 days. The mean hospital charges for those who had a DKA readmission were $ 20,339.70. The 30-day DKA readmission odds were seen to be increased for female patients, Medicaid-insured patients, admissions at metropolitan non-teaching hospitals, and children from 0-25th percentile median household income category. Conclusion There has not been much of a change in the trend and risk factors contributing to the 30-day unplanned DKA readmissions over the years despite the steady rise in cases of diabetes mellitus. The length of stay for those who did not get readmitted within 30 days was longer than for those who did. This could reflect more comprehensive care and discharge planning that may have prevented them from readmission. Diabetes mellitus is a chronic disease that demands a team effort from the patient, family, healthcare personnel, insurance companies, and lawmakers. There is scope for a lot of improvement with the way our patients are being managed, and a more holistic approach needs to be devised.

Age- and Diagnosis-Based Trends for Unplanned Pediatric Rehospitalizations in the United States.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Hospital readmission rate helps to highlight the effectiveness of post-discharge care. There remains a paucity of plausible age-based categorization especially for ages below one year for hospital readmission rates. METHODS: Data from the 2017 Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project National Readmissions Database was analyzed for ages 0-18 years. Logistic regression analysis was performed to identify predictors for unplanned early readmissions.  Results: We identified 5,529,389 inpatient pediatric encounters which were further divided into age group cohorts. The overall rate of readmissions was identified at 3.2%. Beyond infancy, the readmission rate was found to be 6.7%. Across all age groups, the major predictors of unplanned readmission were cancers, diseases affecting transplant recipients and sickle cell patients. It was determined that reflux, milk protein allergy, hepatitis and inflammatory bowel diseases were significant diagnoses leading to readmission. Anxiety, depression and suicidal ideation depicted higher readmission rates in those older than 13 years. Across ages one to four years, dehydration, asthma and bronchiolitis were negative predictors of unplanned readmission.  Conclusions: Thirty-day unplanned readmissions remain a problem leading to billions of taxpayer dollars lost per annum. Effective strategies for mandatory outpatient follow-up may help the financial aspect of care while also enhancing the quality of care.

Trends in Epidemiology and Microbiology of Severe Sepsis and Septic Shock in Children.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: To explore the microbiologic etiology and trends in incidence and survival of nonneonatal pediatric sepsis in the United States by using the 2006, 2009, and 2012 Kids' Inpatient Database. METHODS: Children with sepsis were identified by using International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM) codes for severe sepsis and septic shock (ICD-9-CM cohort) and by the modified Angus method, which incorporates ICD-9-CM codes for infection and organ dysfunction (Angus cohort). Temporal trends in incidence and microbiologic etiology were evaluated. RESULTS: Among 8 830 057 discharges, 26 470 patients in the ICD-9-CM cohort were diagnosed with severe sepsis and septic shock (29.97 per 10 000 discharges) and 89 505 patients in the Angus cohort (101.34 per 10 000 discharges). The incidence of sepsis increased in both cohorts from 2006 to 2012 (P < .01). In the Angus cohort, the case-fatality rate was the highest for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (14.42%, P < .01) among Gram-positive organisms and for Pseudomonas (21.49%; odds ratio: 2.58 [95% confidence interval: 1.88-3.54]; P < .01) among Gram-negative organisms. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of sepsis has increased, and the sepsis case-fatality rate has decreased, without a decrease in the overall sepsis-associated mortality rate among hospitalized children. Also, bacterial and fungal organisms associated with the pediatric sepsis have changed over these years. These findings are important for focusing the allocation of health care resources and guiding the direction of future studies.