The epidemiological profile of pediatric patients admitted to the general intensive care unit in an Ethiopian university hospital

Abstract

BackgroundIn least developing countries, there are few data on children’s critical care. This makes the provision of aid and improvement of outcome difficult.ObjectivesTo describe admission and outcome patterns of children managed in a general intensive care unit at Jimma University Specialized Hospital (JUSH), Ethiopia, over a 5-year period.MethodsA retrospective cross-sectional study design was used. All children from birth to 14 years of age who were admitted to the general ICU of the hospital from 2009–2013 were included. Patient charts and ICU documentation log were reviewed.ResultsA total of 170 children were admitted to the ICU of JUSH over the study period. The greater share was taken by males (54.7%), with a male-to-female ratio of 1.2:1. The overall mortality rate was 40%. The majority of the children were in the age range of 10–14 years (38.8%). Of the total number of patients admitted, 34.7% were trauma cases, 45.8% of whom died. The highest percentage, 69.5%, of trauma patients were admitted for head injuries. Among the trauma cases, burn and polytrauma were the second and third leading causes (15.3%) of admission. Postoperative patients and medical patients accounted for the rest of the admitted cases (28.2% and 27.6% of the cases respectively).ConclusionThe leading cause of admission and death was trauma. Postoperative and medical causes of admission were also significant. The mortality rate in the ICU was very high, and this could be due to various factors. Further research benchmarking and interventions are highly recommended.

Assessment of pattern and treatment outcome of patients admitted to pediatric intensive care unit, Ayder Referral Hospital, Tigray, Ethiopia, 2015

“…However, the age distribution of ICU admission of which, the majority were under five (62.5%), was similar to studies done in India, 53–72.4% were under five [9–13]. The preponderance of male sex (53.8%) was similar to study done in Ethiopia − 54.7% [6] and Brazil − 55.2% [13], but somehow lower than studies done in India, Nepal, and Greek (54–61.1%) [9–12, 14]. …”

“…The demographic profile of our patient was similar to studies done in Greek, of which major cause of admission was due to pathologic emergencies (69.8%) and respiratory system (22.3%) involvement [10]. This was opposite to studies done in Jimma, Ethiopia, and Tanzania where surgical and trauma patients represent a large proportion of PICU patients [6, 7, 15]. This difference may be due to common ICU for all cases and all age groups.…”

“…The majority (99%) of childhood deaths occurring in developing countries, especially under-five mortality, is highest in sub-Saharan Africa (> tenfold) [4, 5]. Intensive care could reduce mortality rates by 15–60%, when it is a well-equipped, and staffed with intensivists [2, 6]. …”

“…There was a study conducted in Jimma, Ethiopia, mortality was 40% with the most common cause of admission and death being trauma [6]. A similar study of critical care unit of all age patients in Tanzania revealed mortality rate of 41.4% [6].…”

“…A similar study of critical care unit of all age patients in Tanzania revealed mortality rate of 41.4% [6]. In a study of severe head injury patients in the ICU of National Hospital Abuja in Nigeria, the mortality rate was 68.4%, [7, 8].…”