High Burden of Acquired Morbidity in Survivors of Pediatric Acute
Respiratory Distress Syndrome
Abstract
Introduction: With improving mortality rates in pediatric acute
respiratory distress syndrome (PARDS), functional outcomes in survivors
are increasingly important. We aim to describe the change in functional
status score (FSS) from baseline to discharge and to identify risk
factors associated with poor functional outcomes. Methods: We examined
clinical records of patients with PARDS admitted to our pediatric
intensive care unit (PICU) from 2009 to 2016. Our primary outcome was
acquired morbidity at PICU and hospital discharge (defined by an
increase in FSS ≥3 points above baseline). We included severity of
illness scores and severity of PARDS in our bivariate analysis for risk
factors for acquired morbidity. Results: There were 181 patients with
PARDS, of which 90 (49.7%) survived. Median pediatric index of
mortality 2 score was 4.05 (1.22, 8.70) and 21 (26.6%) patients had
severe PARDS. 59 (65.6%) and 14 (15.6%) patients had acquired
morbidity at PICU and hospital discharge, respectively. Median baseline
FSS was 6.00 (6.00, 6.25), which increased to 11.00 (8.75, 12.00) at
PICU discharge before decreasing to 7.50 (6.00, 9.25) at hospital
discharge. All patients had significantly higher median FSS score at
both PICU and hospital discharge compared to baseline. Feeding and
respiratory were the most affected domains. After adjusting for severity
of illness, severity categories of PARDS was not a risk factor for
acquired morbidity. Conclusion: Acquired morbidity in respiratory and
feeding domains was common in PARDS survivors. Specific attention should
be given to these two domains of functional outcomes in these children.