title: Short-term and long-term mortality following pediatric intensive care.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of the present study was to examine short-term and long-term mortality following discharge from the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU).
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a prospective observational study. Data collected consisted of demographics, severity scores, procedures, treatment, need for and duration of mechanical ventilation (MV), length of PICU and hospital stay, and mortality at PICU and hospital discharge, at 3 and 6 months and at 1 and 2 years.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 300 patients (196 boys and 104 girls), aged 54.26 ± 49.93 months, were included in the study. Median (interquartile range) Pediatric Risk of Mortality (PRISM III-24) score was 7 (3-11) and predicted mortality rate was 11.16%. MV rate was 67.3% (58.3% at admission) for 6.54 ± 14.15 days, and length of PICU and hospital stay was 8.85 ± 23.28 days and 20.69 ± 28.64 days, respectively. Mortality rate at discharge was 9.7% and cumulative mortality rate thereafter was 12.7%, 15.0%, 16.7%, 19.0%, and 19.0% at hospital discharge, 3 months, 6 months, 1 year and 2 years, respectively. Significant risk factors of PICU mortality were inotrope use, PRISM III-24 score >8, MV, arterial and central venous catheterization, nosocomial infection, complications, and cancer. Independent predictors of mortality at discharge were inotrope use and PRISM III-24 score, whereas predictors of mortality at 2 years were comorbidity and cancer.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A 2 year follow-up period seems sufficient for a comprehensive mortality analysis of PICU patients. Severity of critical illness is the key factor of short-term mortality, whereas comorbidity is the major determinant of long-term mortality.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Intensive Care, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Hippokratio General Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece. elenavolakli@gmail.com
authors.forename: Eleni A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Volakli
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sdougka
authors.forename: Vasiliki
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Drossou-Agakidou
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Emporiadou
authors.forename: Melpomeni
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Reizoglou
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Giala
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003128:Coma / Q000401:mortality*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D015278:Intensive Care Units, Pediatric; D008297:Male; D009102:Multiple Organ Failure / Q000401:mortality*; D009104:Multiple Trauma / Q000401:mortality*; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012121:Respiration, Artificial / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016019:Survival Analysis; D013997:Time Factors