Introduction Paediatric Intensive Care has developed rapidly in recent years with a dramatic increase in survival rates. However, there are increasing concerns regarding the impact that admission to a Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) has on both the child and their family. Following discharge from PICU, children may be living with complex medical problems as well as dealing with the psychosocial impact that their illness has had on them and their family. Objectives To describe the long-term health outcomes of children admitted to a paediatric intensive care unit (PICU). Methods A full literature search was conducted including the databases; MEDLINE via PubMed, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, (CENTRAL), Scopus, Web of Science, CINAHL, ERIC, Health Source Nursing/Academic, APA PsycInfo. All studies including children under 18 admitted to a PICU were included. Primary outcome was short- and longerterm mortality. Secondary outcomes were neurodevelopment/cognition/school performance; physical function, psychological function/behaviour impact, quality of life outcomes and social/family implications. Studies focused on Neonatal Intensive Care Admission and articles with no English translation were excluded. Results One hundred and five articles were included in the analysis. Mortality in PICU ranged from 1.3% to 50%. Mortality in high income countries reduced over time but the data did not show the same trend for low- and middle-income countries. Higher income countries were found to have lower Standardised Mortality Rates (SMRs) than low- and middle-income countries. Children had an ongoing risk of death for up to 10 years following PICU admission. Children admitted to PICU also have more ongoing morbidity than their healthy counterparts with more cognitive/developmental problems, more functional health issues, poorer quality of life as well as increased psychological problems. Their parents also have an increased risk of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Discussion Most of the studies identified are from high income countries and only include short-term follow up. More data is needed from low- and middle-income countries and over longer terms. The studies were markedly heterogenous and were all observational. Agreement is needed regarding which outcomes are most important to measure as well as standardised methods of assessing them. Further research is needed to identify the risk factors which cause children to have poorer outcomes as well as to identify predictive and modifiable factors which could be targeted in practice improvement initiatives.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:uct/oai:localhost:11427/32977 |
| Date | 24 February 2021 |
| Creators | Procter, Claire |
| Contributors | Argent, Andrew, Morrow, Brenda |
| Publisher | Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Master Thesis, Masters, MPhil |
| Format | application/pdf |
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