Predicting Severe Outcomes Among Children Hospitalized With Community-acquired Pneumonia

Development and Validation of a Risk Score for Predicting Severe Outcomes Among Children Hospitalized With Community-acquired Pneumonia

In this study, investigators aimed to develop and validate a risk score to predict severe outcomes (e.g., mortality and ICU admission) in children who were admitted to the Children's Hospital of Fudan University between 2017 and 2022 due to community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). The objectives were as follows.

1. Develop a risk prediction model based on demographic, comorbidity, clinical characteristics, laboratory data, and chest radiographic reports to predict severe outcomes among children hospitalized with CAP;
2. Develop a risk scoring system and determine the cut-off point;
3. Externally validate the easy-to-use risk score.

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Aged between 29 days and 18 years old;
2. Admitted to hospital with signs or symptoms of acute infection (eg, fever) and acute respiratory illness (eg, cough), and radiographic evidence of pneumonia.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Pneumonia developed 48 hours after admission or intubation;
2. Chronic pneumonia, tuberculosis, tracheobronchial foreign bodies, aspiration pneumonia, parasitic lung disease, and diffuse pulmonary interstitial/parenchyma disease.