Identifying predictive factors and clinical outcomes for high-risk pneumonia among hospitalized pediatric patients with measles in a national tertiary infectious disease hospital from January 2019 to December 2019: A cohort study

ABSTRACT

Background@#Measles surged worldwide in 2019, which recorded the highest number of cases in the last 23 years. In the Philippines, the peak of the outbreak occurred in January-February 2019.1-3 Pneumonia was the most common severe complication and cause of death of measles. Age, sex, area of residence, immunization history, nutrition status and presence of comorbidities may contribute to the development of high-risk pneumonia in measles patients, affecting clinical outcomes.@*Objective@#This study aimed to determine predictive factors for high-risk pneumonia among hospitalized pediatric patients with measles and clinical outcomes in San Lazaro Hospital from January 2019 to December 2019.@*Methods@#A cohort study was conducted through a review of medical records of pediatric patients with measles admitted at San Lazaro Hospital from January 2019 to December 2019. The following data were extracted demographic data, immunization history, nutrition status, presence of comorbidities, development of high-risk pneumonia, and clinical outcomes were extracted. Logistic regression was done to determine the factors associated with development of high-risk pneumonia.@*Results@#A total of 530 medical records were reviewed, and 27.9% of these documented severe pneumonia. Most of the patients were less than 5 years of age (84.53%) and were residing in Metro Manila (85.47%). Majority (73.40%) had no vaccination for measles. Chi-square test showed that the variables of age (p=0.001), measles vaccination status (p=0.011), BMI-for-age (p=0.005), weight-for-age (p=0.027), and weight-for-height (p=0.004) were significantly different between those who developed high-risk pneumonia and those who did not. However, in the final multiple logistic regression analysis, only nutritional status was predictive of high-risk pneumonia. Patients with severe wasting were 1.85 times (p=0.010) and patients who were overweight were 4.24 times (p=0.003) more likely to develop high-risk pneumonia. There was also a significant difference in clinical outcomes between those without high-risk and with high-risk pneumonia (p=<0.001). All mortality cases had high-risk pneumonia, were less than 5 years of age, and were unvaccinated.@*Conclusion@#Age, measles vaccination status and nutrition status were the factors identified to be associated with high-risk pneumonia among pediatric patients with measles. Thus, it is important to encourage parents to vaccinate their children against measles and to promote proper nutrition.