Predictors of Extended Length of Hospital Stay Following Surgical Repair of Congenital Heart Diseases.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate post-operative length of stay (LOS) following surgical repair of congenital heart defects (CHD) and to investigate baseline pre-operative factors and predictors of post-operative LOS (pLOS). Retrospective chart review of all cases of corrective surgery for CHD performed at the Pediatric Cardiology Unit, King Abdulaziz University Hospital, Jeddah during January 2013-December 2016. Baseline demographics, clinical factors, pre-operative, intra-operative, post-operative cardiac and extra-cardiac complications were analyzed as independent factors of pLOS using stepwise linear regression. Kaplan-Meier (KM) survival analysis was used to analyze the correlation of pLOS (in days) with the independent variables and estimate the probability to exceeding a given pLOS. A total 191 patients (52.4% male, 49.7% aged ≤ 1 year) were included with a median [range] LOS = 10 [3, 158] days. Several baseline clinical factors were associated with longer pLOS such as complex CHD types (tetralogy of Fallot, transposition of great arteries, etc.), high-risk RACHS categories and low weight at surgery. Independent risk factors of pLOS included pre-operative hemoglobin level (unstandardized regression coefficient: B = 2.96, p = 0.036) as the only pre-operative predictor of LOS, besides intra-operative complications (B = 11.72, p = 0.009) and posto-perative factors including MV duration (B = 9.39, p < 0.001), diet/feeding problems (B = 10.27, p = 0.001) and drain tube stay (B = 3.82, p = 0.003). KM survival curves confirmed that these factors increased the probability for longer LOS. Post-operative LOS was associated with several baseline and peri-operative factors; however, it was independently predicted by abnormal baseline hemoglobin level, the occurrence of intra-operative complications, besides post-operative feeding problems, chest drain stay, and MV duration.

Nocturnal enuresis among primary school children.

To determine the prevalence and personal and family risk factors for nocturnal enuresis (NE) among primary school children in Al-Mukalla City, Yemen, we conducted a cross-sectional survey using a self-administered, three-part structured questionnaire involving 832 school children aged 6 - 15 years between 2007 and 2008. We assessed participants' socio-demographic factors, family characteristics and factors related to the presence of NE. The mean age of the children was 11.5 (±2.7) years. The overall prevalence of NE was 28.6%, with a predominance of girls, and the prevalence decreased with increasing age (P <0.001). Factors likely to be associated with NE were pattern of sleeping (P <0.001), stressful social and psychological events (P <0.01), positive family history of enuresis (P <0.001), large family size (P >0.002) and a higher number of siblings (P = 0.01). Our findings reveal a high prevalence of NE among children in Al-Mukalla City, Yemen, with a higher prevalence in girls than in boys compared with the other studies. Sleep pattern, stressful life events, family history of NE, large family size and more children in the household may act as a risk factor for NE.