Journal Article > ResearchSubscription Only
Pediatrics. 2023 March 23; Online ahead of print; DOI:10.1542/peds.2022-057912
Bonnet MMB, Nordholm AC, Ssekyanzi B, Byamukama O, Orikiriza P, et al.
Pediatrics. 2023 March 23; Online ahead of print; DOI:10.1542/peds.2022-057912
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES:
Children experience high tuberculosis (TB)-related mortality but causes of death among those with presumptive TB are poorly documented. We describe the mortality, likely causes of death, and associated risk factors among vulnerable children admitted with presumptive TB in rural Uganda.
METHODS:
We conducted a prospective study of vulnerable children, defined as <2 years of age, HIV-positive, or severely malnourished, with a clinical suspicion of TB. Children were assessed for TB and followed for 24 weeks. TB classification and likely cause of death were assessed by an expert endpoint review committee, including insight gained from minimally invasive autopsies, when possible.
RESULTS:
Of the 219 children included, 157 (71.7%) were <2 years of age, 72 (32.9%) were HIV-positive, and 184 (84.0%) were severely malnourished. Seventy-one (32.4%) were classified as “likely tuberculosis” (15 confirmed and 56 unconfirmed), and 72 (32.9%) died. The median time to death was 12 days. The most frequent causes of death, ascertained for 59 children (81.9%), including 23 cases with autopsy results, were severe pneumonia excluding confirmed TB (23.7%), hypovolemic shock due to diarrhea (20.3%), cardiac failure (13.6%), severe sepsis (13.6%), and confirmed TB (10.2%). Mortality risk factors were confirmed TB (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] = 2.84 [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.19–6.77]), being HIV-positive (aHR = 2.45 [95% CI: 1.37–4.38]), and severe clinical state on admission (aHR = 2.45 [95% CI: 1.29–4.66]).
CONCLUSIONS:
Vulnerable children hospitalized with presumptive TB experienced high mortality. A better understanding of the likely causes of death in this group is important to guide empirical management.
Children experience high tuberculosis (TB)-related mortality but causes of death among those with presumptive TB are poorly documented. We describe the mortality, likely causes of death, and associated risk factors among vulnerable children admitted with presumptive TB in rural Uganda.
METHODS:
We conducted a prospective study of vulnerable children, defined as <2 years of age, HIV-positive, or severely malnourished, with a clinical suspicion of TB. Children were assessed for TB and followed for 24 weeks. TB classification and likely cause of death were assessed by an expert endpoint review committee, including insight gained from minimally invasive autopsies, when possible.
RESULTS:
Of the 219 children included, 157 (71.7%) were <2 years of age, 72 (32.9%) were HIV-positive, and 184 (84.0%) were severely malnourished. Seventy-one (32.4%) were classified as “likely tuberculosis” (15 confirmed and 56 unconfirmed), and 72 (32.9%) died. The median time to death was 12 days. The most frequent causes of death, ascertained for 59 children (81.9%), including 23 cases with autopsy results, were severe pneumonia excluding confirmed TB (23.7%), hypovolemic shock due to diarrhea (20.3%), cardiac failure (13.6%), severe sepsis (13.6%), and confirmed TB (10.2%). Mortality risk factors were confirmed TB (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] = 2.84 [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.19–6.77]), being HIV-positive (aHR = 2.45 [95% CI: 1.37–4.38]), and severe clinical state on admission (aHR = 2.45 [95% CI: 1.29–4.66]).
CONCLUSIONS:
Vulnerable children hospitalized with presumptive TB experienced high mortality. A better understanding of the likely causes of death in this group is important to guide empirical management.
Journal Article > ResearchFull Text
Pediatrics. 2012 September 17; Volume 130 (Issue 4); e966-e977.; DOI:10.1542/peds.2011-3020
Gsponer T, Weigel R, Davies MA, Bolton C, Moultrie H, et al.
Pediatrics. 2012 September 17; Volume 130 (Issue 4); e966-e977.; DOI:10.1542/peds.2011-3020
BACKGROUND
Poor growth is an indication for antiretroviral therapy (ART) and a criterion for treatment failure. We examined variability in growth response to ART in 12 programs in Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, and South Africa.
METHODS
Treatment naïve children aged <10 years were included. We calculated weight for age z scores (WAZs), height for age z scores (HAZs), and weight for height z scores (WHZs) up to 3 years after starting ART, by using the World Health Organization standards. Multilevel regression models were used.
RESULTS
A total of 17 990 children (range, 238–8975) were followed for 36 181 person-years. At ART initiation, most children were underweight (50%) and stunted (66%). Lower baseline WAZ, HAZ, and WHZ were the most important determinants of faster catch-up growth on ART. WAZ and WHZ increased rapidly in the first year and stagnated or reversed thereafter, whereas HAZ increased continuously over time. Three years after starting ART, WAZ ranged from −2.80 (95% confidence interval [CI]: −3.66 to −2.02) to −1.98 (95% CI: −2.41 to −1.48) in children with a baseline z score < −3 and from −0.79 (95% CI: −1.62 to 0.02) to 0.05 (95% CI: −0.42 to 0.51) in children with a baseline WAZ ≥ −1. For HAZ, the corresponding range was −2.33 (95% CI: −2.62 to −2.02) to −1.27 (95% CI: −1.58 to −1.00) for baseline HAZ < −3 and −0.24 (95% CI: −0.56 to 0.15) to 0.84 (95% CI: 0.53 to 1.16) for HAZ ≥ −1.
CONCLUSIONS
Despite a sustained growth response and catch-up growth in children with advanced HIV disease treated with ART, normal weights and heights are not achieved over 3 years of ART.
Poor growth is an indication for antiretroviral therapy (ART) and a criterion for treatment failure. We examined variability in growth response to ART in 12 programs in Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, and South Africa.
METHODS
Treatment naïve children aged <10 years were included. We calculated weight for age z scores (WAZs), height for age z scores (HAZs), and weight for height z scores (WHZs) up to 3 years after starting ART, by using the World Health Organization standards. Multilevel regression models were used.
RESULTS
A total of 17 990 children (range, 238–8975) were followed for 36 181 person-years. At ART initiation, most children were underweight (50%) and stunted (66%). Lower baseline WAZ, HAZ, and WHZ were the most important determinants of faster catch-up growth on ART. WAZ and WHZ increased rapidly in the first year and stagnated or reversed thereafter, whereas HAZ increased continuously over time. Three years after starting ART, WAZ ranged from −2.80 (95% confidence interval [CI]: −3.66 to −2.02) to −1.98 (95% CI: −2.41 to −1.48) in children with a baseline z score < −3 and from −0.79 (95% CI: −1.62 to 0.02) to 0.05 (95% CI: −0.42 to 0.51) in children with a baseline WAZ ≥ −1. For HAZ, the corresponding range was −2.33 (95% CI: −2.62 to −2.02) to −1.27 (95% CI: −1.58 to −1.00) for baseline HAZ < −3 and −0.24 (95% CI: −0.56 to 0.15) to 0.84 (95% CI: 0.53 to 1.16) for HAZ ≥ −1.
CONCLUSIONS
Despite a sustained growth response and catch-up growth in children with advanced HIV disease treated with ART, normal weights and heights are not achieved over 3 years of ART.