Risk Factors of Mortality in Severely-malnourished Children Hospitalized with Diarrhoea
Author Information
Author(s): Roy S.K., Buis Maaike, Weersma Renee, Khatun Wajiha, Chowdhury S., Begum Afroza, Sarker Debjani, Thakur Saima Kamal, Khanam Mansura
Primary Institution: ICDDR,B, Dhaka, Bangladesh
Hypothesis
What are the specific risk factors of mortality associated with diarrhoea among severely-malnourished children aged less than three years?
Conclusion
The study identified clinical septicaemia, hypothermia, and bronchopneumonia as significant risk factors for mortality in severely-malnourished children with diarrhoea.
Supporting Evidence
- Children with low pulse rates had three times the odds of death compared to controls.
- Clinical septicaemia had 11.7 times the odds of death.
- Hypothermia showed 4.8 times the odds of mortality.
- Leukocytosis was associated with 2.5 times the odds of death.
Takeaway
This study found that sick children who are very thin and have diarrhoea are more likely to die if they have certain problems like infections or low body temperature.
Methodology
A case-control study comparing 103 severely-malnourished children who died with 103 who survived, all hospitalized for diarrhoea.
Potential Biases
Some variables were subjectively assessed, which could introduce bias.
Limitations
The data may not represent all severely-malnourished children with diarrhoea in Bangladesh as the study was conducted in a specialized hospital.
Participant Demographics
Children aged less than three years, with severe malnutrition defined as weight-for-age <60% of the median.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.01
Confidence Interval
CI 3.7-21.1
Statistical Significance
p<0.01
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