J Pediatr Intensive Care 2023; 12(02): 106-111
DOI: 10.1055/s-0041-1730928
Original Article

Poor Functional Outcomes in Pediatric Intensive Care Survivors in Brazil: Prevalence and Associated Factors

1   Programa de Pós-Graduação em Saúde da Criança e do Adolescente, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, Brazil
,
2   Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Pneumológicas, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, Brazil
,
Paula M. E. Rovedder
2   Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Pneumológicas, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, Brazil
3   Escola de Educação Física, Fisioterapia e Dança (ESEFID), Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, Brazil
,
Paulo R. A. Carvalho
1   Programa de Pós-Graduação em Saúde da Criança e do Adolescente, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, Brazil
4   Departamento de Pediatria, Unidade de Terapia Intensiva Pediátrica, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, Brazil
› Author Affiliations

Funding This study was funded by Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico, CNPq Brazil.
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Abstract

Survivors of pediatric critical illnesses develop temporary or permanent functional impairments. We do not have enough data on Brazilian children, however, and the available evidence mainly shows results from high-income countries. Our objective was to assess changes in the functional status of children and adolescents surviving critical illnesses in Brazil, and to identify which factors contribute to these functional changes at pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) discharge. To develop this cross-sectional study, two researchers blinded to previous patient information applied the Functional Status Scale (FSS) with patients and caregivers at two different times in a tertiary PICU. The FSS examines six function domains as follows: (1) mental status, (2) sensory functioning, (3) communication, (4) motor functioning, (5) feeding, and (6) respiratory status. The functional decline/poor outcome was defined as an increase in points sufficient to alter the FSS total scores at discharge when comparing to the total baseline score. A total of 303 patients completed the study. Of these, 199 (66%) were with previous chronic conditions. The prevalence of functional decrease was 68% at PICU discharge. Young age (<12 months) and mechanical ventilation time ≥11 days increased by 1.44 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.20–1.74, p < 0.001) and 1.74 (95% CI: 1.49–2.03, p < 0.001), respectively, the chances of poor functional results at PICU discharge. This study is the first in Brazil to show that during the episode of critical illness, young age (≤12 months) and duration of invasive mechanical ventilation independently increased the chances of functional impairment in children.



Publication History

Received: 25 January 2021

Accepted: 08 April 2021

Article published online:
08 June 2021

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