ORIGINAL: Determinants of Outcome among Under-Five Children Hospitalized with Pneumonia at a Tertiary Health Facility in South-West Nigeria.

West Afr J Med. 2021 Feb;38(2):114-119. PMID: 33641144

Abstract

Background: Pneumonia contributes largely to mortality among children particularly in developing countries. In 2018, about 15% of all deaths in children aged less than 5 years were attributed to pneumonia globally. This study aimed to identify factors at presentation that determine mortality among children less than 5 years of age hospitalized with pneumonia.

Methods: This was a prospective observational study conducted at the Children emergency unit of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology Teaching Hospital, Osogbo, Nigeria. Subjects were consecutive children aged between 1-60 months with clinical and radiological pneumonia. Treatment outcome and determinants of mortality were studied.

Results: A total of 129 subjects were studied with a male to female ratio of 1.5: 1. Thirteen subjects died, giving a case fatality rate of 10.1%. Mortality was associated with age <24 months (p= 0.001), severe wasting (p< 0.001), temperature >38.30C (p= 0.001), grunting (p< 0.001), central cyanosis (p < 0.001), hypoxaemia (p < 0.001), loss of consciousness (p = 0.007), severe anaemia (p < 0.001), and leucopaenia (p = 0.001). Among the significant variables, temperature >38.30C [adjusted odds ratio (OR) 34.241, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.496 - 469.815], grunting (OR 19.444, 95% CI 1.744 - 216.725), central cyanosis (OR 43.984, 95% CI 2.001- 966.729), hypoxaemia (OR 41.883, 95% CI 1.918 - 914.495) and severe anaemia (OR 48.201, 95% CI 3.351 - 693.432) were the independent determinants of mortality.

Conclusion: Children hospitalized for pneumonia with temperature >38.30C, grunting, cyanosis, hypoxaemia, and severe anaemia are more likely to die. Hence, they must be treated intensively.