Predictors of severe H1N1 infection in children presenting within Pediatric Emergency Research Networks (PERN): retrospective case-control study.
OBJECTIVE
To identify historical and clinical findings at emergency department presentation associated with severe H1N1 outcome in children presenting with influenza-like illness.


METHODS
Multicentre retrospective case-control study.


METHODS
79 emergency departments of hospitals associated with the Pediatric Emergency Research Networks in 12 countries.


METHODS
265 children (<16 years), presenting between 16 April and 31 December 2009, who fulfilled Centers for Disease Control and Prevention criteria for influenza-like illness and developed severe outcomes from laboratory confirmed H1N1 infection. For each case, two controls presenting with influenza-like illness but without severe outcomes were included: one random control and one age matched control.


METHODS
Severe outcomes included death or admission to intensive care for assisted ventilation, inotropic support, or both. Multivariable conditional logistic regression was used to compare cases and controls, with effect sizes measured as adjusted odds ratios.


RESULTS
151 (57%) of the 265 cases were male, the median age was 6 (interquartile range 2.3-10.0) years, and 27 (10%) died. Six factors were associated with severe outcomes in children presenting with influenza-like illness: history of chronic lung disease (odds ratio 10.3, 95% confidence interval 1.5 to 69.8), history of cerebral palsy/developmental delay (10.2, 2.0 to 51.4), signs of chest retractions (9.6, 3.2 to 29.0), signs of dehydration (8.8, 1.6 to 49.3), requirement for oxygen (5.8, 2.0 to 16.2), and tachycardia relative to age).


CONCLUSIONS
These independent risk factors may alert clinicians to children at risk of severe outcomes when presenting with influenza-like illness during future pandemics.
Starship Children's Hospital, Auckland, New Zealand.
Stuart R
SR
Dalziel
John Md
JM
Thompson
Charles G
CG
Macias
Ricardo M
RM
Fernandes
David W
DW
Johnson
Yehezkel
Y
Waisman
Nicholas
N
Cheng
Jason
J
Acworth
James M
JM
Chamberlain
Martin H
MH
Osmond
Amy
A
Plint
Paolo
P
Valerio
Karen Jl
KJ
Black
Eleanor
E
Fitzpatrick
Amanda S
AS
Newton
Nathan
N
Kuppermann
Terry P
TP
Klassen
D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004638:Emergency Treatment / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D053118:Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy / Q000821:virology; D015278:Intensive Care Units, Pediatric / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D009026:Mortality; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D058873:Pandemics; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index