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Effects of intrauterine growth retardation on mortality and morbidity in infants and young children.

This review aims to quantify the risks of mortality and morbidity associated with intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR). Twenty-nine data sets with birth-weight-specific mortalities are examined to determine whether consistent patterns of risk emerge when data from different populations are compared. Measures of mortality risk are also made with birth weight as a dichotomous variable. Twelve data sets are presented. From the data available, it is estimated that for term infants weighing 2000-2499 g at birth, the risk of neonatal death is 4 times higher than for infants weighing 2500-2999 g, and 10 times higher than for infants weighing 3000-3499 g. The risk of postneonatal death in term infants weighing 2000-2499 g is estimated to be 2 times higher than for infants 2500-2999 g, and 4 times that of infants weighing 3000-3499 g. Estimates of risk for IUGR infants are less consistent than for preterm infants. This could be due to methodological differences, particularly smaller sample sizes in the studies in developing countries, or may reflect real variation in risk. The latter may be associated with the heterogeneity of IUGR across populations, or to varying risks depending, for example, on which infections predominate or infant age at peak prevalence. IUGR is most prevalent in developing countries and the review therefore focuses on morbidity from diarrhoeal and respiratory infections. Data from nine studies are presented. There is an increased risk of diarrhoea in term infants < 2500 g and an increased risk of pneumonia. The risks of morbidity and mortality appear to differ depending on whether infants are wasted or stunted at birth. Stunted infants of low birth weight have higher neonatal mortality than wasted newborns, but this could be due to inclusion of infants with congenital anomalies who are often stunted. Wasted infants are more prone than stunted infants to neonatal morbidity. No comparative postneonatal data were located.

Birth Weight↗

Long-term reduction in asthma morbidity following an asthma self-management programme.

The adult "credit card" asthma self-management plan has been shown to be an effective and acceptable system for reducing asthma morbidity when introduced as part of a 6 month community-based asthma programme. The aim of the present study was to assess the effectiveness of the credit card plan 2 yrs after the end of the programme. Markers of asthma morbidity and use of medical services were compared during the 12 months before enrolment, and 2 yrs after completing the 6 month asthma programme. Of the 69 participants who originally enroled in the 6 month asthma programme, 58 were surveyed 2 yrs after completion of the programme. These participants showed a significant improvement in all but one of the asthma morbidity measures. The proportion waking most nights with asthma in the previous 12 months decreased from 29 to 9% (p=0.02), emergency visits to a general practitioner decreased from 43 to 16% (p=0.001), hospital emergency department visits with asthma decreased from 19 to 5% (p=0.02) and hospital admissions decreased from 17 to 5% (p=0.04). Only 24% of patients reported that they usually monitored their peak flow rate daily, but this increased to 73% during a "bad" attack of asthma. A long-term reduction in asthma morbidity and requirement for acute medical services can result following the introduction of the adult credit card asthma self-management plan. Adult patients with asthma are most likely to undertake peak flow monitoring preferentially during periods of unstable asthma, rather than routinely during periods of good control.

Adult↗

Prevalence of psychiatric morbidity among convicted inmates in a Nigerian prison community.

Studies of psychiatric morbidity in Nigerian prisons have not involved assessment for specific psychiatric disorders. The general aim of this study was to highlight the prevalence of psychiatric morbidity among convicted inmates at a medium security prison in Nigeria. In a one month period in 1996, 100 inmates (93% males, mean age, 31.4 years) of the prison in Benin City, were assessed, using the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-30) and the Psychiatric Assessment Schedule (PAS). The 34 subjects who scored upto GHQ-30 cut-off, four, had specific axis I DSM III-R diagnoses, including, schizophrenia in two, major depression in two in recurrent mild depression in twenty one, generalised anxiety disorder in eight and somatisation disorder in one. On axis II, six subjects had antisocial personality disorder while another subject had probable mild mental retardation. On Axis III, 15 subjects had chronic physical illnesses, including one with epilepsy. Twenty five inmates had past histories of drug abuse prior to imprisonment, including cannabis (11%) and alcohol (13%). Total PAS scores were significantly predicted only by GHQ scores and length of stay in prison. There was no association between offence committed and psychiatric morbidity. Most subjects with psychiatric morbidity developed these illnesses while in prison. The findings differed from the situation in developed countries where personality disorders and substance use are much more prevalent. The fairly high level of psychiatric disorders underscores the need to improve medical services in the prison.

Adult↗

Audit of populations in general practice: the creation of a national resource for the study of morbidity in Scottish general practice.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To create a national data resource for studying morbidity in Scottish general practice, complementary to existing information systems and available for management and research purposes at national and local levels. DESIGN: The Department of General Practice, University of Aberdeen has worked since 1988 to collect and analyse computerised information at practice, regional, and national levels by distribution of a floppy disk-based software program, which extracts a predetermined dataset from each general practice computer system. SETTING: Almost 100% of patients in Scotland are registered with a general practitioner. Scotland has a national computer system, General Practice Administration System for Scotland (GPASS), used by over 75% of all Scottish practices. Escalating costs of health care and demographic changes in the national population emphasise the monetary value of the gatekeeper role of general medical practice. General practitioners' increasing involvement in the provision and purchasing of care has raised the importance of the management of populations as well as the care of individual patients. PATIENTS: Collection of major morbidity and prescribing data from up to 2.4 million patients, approximately half the population of Scotland, takes place biannually. A subset of practices (population 282,700 patients; 52 practices) are continuously collecting doctor/patient contact information (symptoms or diagnoses). MAIN RESULTS: The data collected provide information at the level of the individual patient. Morbidity, prescribing, screening, and administrative data can be linked by patient, date or postcode. The sample population studied is representative by age, sex, deprivation, and sparsity (using the postcode) of the national population. Large sub-populations of patients satisfying a selected criteria can be extracted for further study of needs assessment or of epidemiological research. CONCLUSIONS: The gatekeeping role of Scottish general practice and the predominance of GPASS favours standardisation of methods of data capture and the construction of large regional, national, and Continuous Morbidity databases. Analysis by geographical, demographic, and temporal distributions allows the changing patterns of illness and provision of health care to be studied in substantial detail to the benefit of patients, doctors, and the national health service.

Adolescent↗

In-hospital cardiopulmonary resuscitation: prearrest morbidity and outcome.

BACKGROUND: Considerations about the application of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) should include the expected probability of survival. The survival probability after CPR may be more accurately estimated by the occurrence in time of the prearrest morbidity of patients. OBJECTIVE: To identify risk factors for poor survival after CPR in relation to the dynamics of prearrest morbidity. METHODS: Medical records of CPR patients were reviewed. Prearrest morbidity was established by categorizing the medical diagnoses according to 3 functional time frames: before hospital admission, on hospital admission, and during hospital admission. Indicators of poor survival after CPR were identified through a logistic regression model. RESULTS: Included in the study were 553 CPR patients with a median age of 68 years (age range, 18-98 years); 21.7% survived to hospital discharge. Independent indicators of poor outcome were an age of 70 years or older (odds ratio [OR]=0.6, 95% confidence interval [CI]=0.4-0.9), stroke (OR=0.3, 95% CI=0.1-0.7) or renal failure (OR=0.3, 95% CI=0.1-0.8) before hospital admission, and congestive heart failure during hospital admission (OR=0.4, 95% CI=0.2-0.9). Indicators of good survival were angina pectoris before hospital admission (OR=2.1, 95% CI=1.3-.3.3) or ventricular dysrhythmia as the diagnosis on hospital admission (OR=11.0, 95% CI=4.1-33.7). Based on a logistic regression model, 17.4% of our CPR patients (n= 96) were identified as having a high risk for a poor outcome (< 10% survival). CONCLUSIONS: Time of prearrest morbidity has a prognostic value for survival after CPR. Patients at risk for poor survival can be identified on or during hospital admission, but the reliability and validity of the model needs further research. Although decisions will not be made by the model, its information can be useful for physicians in discussions about patient prognoses and to make decisions about CPR with more confidence.

Adult↗

Effects of antidepressant medication on morbidity and mortality in depressed patients after myocardial infarction.

BACKGROUND: Depression after myocardial infarction (MI) is associated with higher morbidity and mortality. Although antidepressants are effective in reducing depression, their use in patients with cardiovascular disease remains controversial. OBJECTIVE: To undertake a secondary analysis to determine the effects of using antidepressants on morbidity and mortality in post-MI patients who participated in the Enhancing Recovery in Coronary Heart Disease study. DESIGN: Observational secondary analysis. SETTING: Eight academic sites. PATIENTS: The Enhancing Recovery in Coronary Heart Disease clinical trial randomized 2481 depressed and/or socially isolated patients from October 1, 1996, to October 31, 1999. Depression was diagnosed using a structured clinical interview. This analysis was conducted on the 1834 patients enrolled with depression (849 women and 985 men). INTERVENTION: Use of antidepressant medication. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Event-free survival was defined as the absence of death or recurrent MI. All-cause mortality was also examined. To relate exposure to antidepressants to subsequent morbidity and mortality, the data were analyzed using a time-dependent covariate model. RESULTS: During a mean follow-up of 29 months, 457 fatal and nonfatal cardiovascular events occurred. The risk of death or recurrent MI was significantly lower in patients taking selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (adjusted hazard ratio [HR], 0.57; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.38-0.84), as were the risk of all-cause mortality (adjusted HR, 0.59; 95% CI, 0.37-0.96) and recurrent MI (adjusted HR, 0.53; 95% CI, 0.32-0.90), compared with patients who did not use selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. For patients taking non-selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor antidepressants, the comparable HRs (95% CIs) were 0.72 (0.44-1.18), 0.64 (0.34-1.22), and 0.73 (0.38-1.38) for risk of death or recurrent MI, all-cause mortality, or recurrent MI, respectively, compared with nonusers. CONCLUSIONS: Use of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors in depressed patients who experience an acute MI might reduce subsequent cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. A controlled trial is needed to examine this important issue.

Antidepressive Agents↗

Morbidity following sentinel lymph node biopsy versus axillary lymph node dissection for patients with breast carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Axillary lymph node dissection for staging the axilla in breast carcinoma patients is associated with considerable morbidity, such as edema of the arm, pain, sensory disturbances, impairment of arm mobility, and shoulder stiffness. Sentinel lymph node biopsy electively removes the first lymph node, which gets the drainage from the tumor and should therefore be associated with nearly zero morbidity. METHODS: Postoperative morbidity (increase in arm circumference, subjective lymphedema, pain, numbness, effect on arm strength and mobility, and stiffness) of the operated arm was prospectively compared in 35 breast carcinoma patients after axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) of Level I and II and 35 patients following sentinel lymph node (SN) biopsy. RESULTS: Patient characteristics were comparable between the two groups. Postoperative follow-up was 15.4 months (range, 4-28 months) in the SN group and 17.0 months (range, 4-28 months) in the ALND group. Following axillary dissection, patients showed a significant increase in upper and forearm circumference of the operated arm compared with the SN patients, as well as a significantly higher rate of subjective lymphedema, pain, numbness, and motion restriction. No difference between the two groups was found regarding arm stiffness or arm strength, nor did the type of surgery affect daily living. CONCLUSIONS: SN biopsy is associated with negligible morbidity compared with complete axillary lymph node dissection.

Activities of Daily Living↗

Coliforms in the water and hemoglobin concentration are predictors of gastrointestinal morbidity of Bangladeshi children ages 1-10 years.

The presence of pathogens in the water and children's poor nutritional status are likely to increase morbidity in developing countries. Understanding the interactions between the environmental and nutritional factors is important from the standpoint of improving child health. In this study, we analyzed the effects of fecal and total coliforms in the water available at the source and that stored in the household on the spells of gastrointestinal morbidity of 99 Bangladeshi children at three time points in an 8-month period. Fecal and total coliforms in the stored water were significant predictors (P < 0.05) of morbidity that was modeled using dynamic random effects models. Moreover, children with better hemoglobin status experienced lower morbidity. An empirical model for the proximate determinants of hemoglobin concentration showed significant negative associations between children's hookworm loads and hemoglobin. While the children's intakes of bioavailable iron, iron from meat, fish, and poultry, and iron from animal sources were not significant predictors of hemoglobin status in this population, the need for broader interventions for improving child health was apparent.

Age Distribution↗

The long-term prognosis in untreated cerebral aneurysms: II. Late morbidity and mortality.

Three hundred sixty-four patients who suffered a subarachnoid hemorrhage from an aneurysm at either the anterior (ACA) or posterior (PCA) communicating artery location and who were not surgically treated have been followed for up to 21 years in order to study the late morbidity and mortality. For patients surviving six months: (1) little improvement in morbidity was noted during the many years of subsequent follow-up; (2) in general, ACA patients fared better than PCA patients; (3) the neurological state on original admission was strongly correlated with the degree of morbidity; (4) other factors measured at time of original hemorrhage which adversely affected morbidity included the level of blood pressure or the presence of clot or spasm; (5) if deaths from late hemorrhage are excluded, cardiovascular causes account for the majority of subsequent deaths; and (6) the risk of dying from all causes is increased when compared to a population matched by age and sex.

Follow-Up Studies↗

Mortality, morbidity and functional outcome after ileorectal anastomosis.

BACKGROUND: Total colectomy with an ileorectal anastomosis (IRA) is a commonly performed operation. Postoperative mortality and morbidity are reported to be low and functional outcome is generally rated as good to excellent. The aim of this study was to review postoperative mortality, morbidity and functional results in an effort to identify risk factors predictive of a poor outcome. METHODS: Some 215 patients (118 women and 97 men) with a median age of 33 (interquartile range (i.q.r.) 25-47) years underwent an IRA between November 1990 and December 1999. Median follow-up was 2 years 9 months (i.q.r. 1-5 years). The clinical notes of these patients were reviewed retrospectively to analyse the postoperative course, bowel function and long-term clinical outcome. RESULTS: The indications for surgery included familial adenomatous polyposis (52.1 per cent), Crohn's disease (14.4 per cent), functional bowel disorder (14.4 per cent), ulcerative colitis (8.4 per cent) and colonic carcinoma (4.7 per cent). The overall 30-day mortality and morbidity rates were 0.9 and 26.0 per cent respectively. This included anastomotic leak (6.5 per cent), small bowel obstruction (14.4 per cent), fistula (2.8 per cent) and anastomotic stricture (1.4 per cent). The incidence of fistula and anastomotic stricture was significantly higher in Crohn's disease (P < 0.001 and P = 0.005 respectively). Only 16 of 31 patients with Crohn's disease had a functioning IRA at long-term follow-up. Median stool frequency was 3 (i.q.r. 3-5) per day one year following surgery and did not change with longer follow-up. CONCLUSION: Mortality and morbidity rates following IRA are low. Postoperative fistula and anastomotic stricture are more common in patients with Crohn's disease, approximately half of whom will eventually need a permanent ileostomy. Long-term bowel function for all groups is satisfactory.

Adult↗

Depression in veterans with Parkinson's disease: frequency, co-morbidity, and healthcare utilization.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the frequency of depression in Parkinson's disease (PD) in routine clinical care, and to examine its association with co-morbid psychiatric and medical conditions and healthcare utilization. METHODS: Depression diagnoses and healthcare utilization data for all male veterans with PD age 55 or older seen in fiscal year 2002 (n = 41,162) were analyzed using Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) national databases. Frequencies of co-morbid disorders and healthcare utilization were determined for depressed and non-depressed patients; associations with depression were examined using multivariate logistic regression models. RESULTS: A depression diagnosis was recorded for 18.5% of PD patients, including major depression in 3.9%. Depression decreased in frequency and severity with increasing age. In multivariate logistic regression models, depressed patients had significantly greater psychiatric and medical co-morbidity, including dementia, psychosis, stroke, congestive heart failure, diabetes, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease than non-depressed patients (all p < 0.01). Depressed PD patients were also significantly more likely to have medical (OR = 1.34, 95% CI = 1.25-1.44) and psychiatric hospitalizations (OR = 2.14, 95% CI = 1.83-2.51), and had more outpatient visits (p < 0.01), than non-depressed PD patients in adjusted models. CONCLUSION: Depression in PD in non-tertiary care settings may not be as common or as severe as that seen in specialty care, though these findings also may reflect under-recognition or diagnostic imprecision. The occurrence of depression in PD is associated with greater psychiatric and medical co-morbidity, and greater healthcare utilization. These findings suggest that screening for depression in PD is important and should be embedded in a comprehensive psychiatric, neuropsychological, and medical evaluation.

Age Factors↗

Co-morbidity of 'clinical trial' versus 'real-world' patients using cardiovascular drugs.

PURPOSE: To examine discrepancies between co-morbidity of patients included in pre-marketing clinical trials of cardiovascular drugs and patients from daily practice, representing the actual users after marketing, and to investigate the availability of data regarding co-morbidity in registration files. METHODS: Data were collected from phase III trials of registration files of 16 drugs, registered in the Netherlands in the period 1985 through 1994 for the indications hypertension, angina pectoris or hypercholesterolemia, and from a general practitioners database. Patients were selected who used drugs from the same therapeutic classes for the same indication as the patients in the pre-marketing trials. Prevalences of concomitant cardiovascular, endocrine and metabolic diseases were compared between pre- and postmarketing populations. Discrepancies were defined as more than 10% difference in prevalences. RESULTS: Data regarding co-morbidity were present in 13 out of 16 registration files and differed in format of reporting. For all indications, coexisting cardiovascular, endocrine and metabolic diseases were less prevalent in the pre-marketing populations, except ischemic heart disease, which was more prevalent coexisting with angina pectoris and hypercholesterolemia. Discrepancies were found for hypertensive disease, heart failure, diabetes mellitus and myocardial infarction. CONCLUSIONS: Phase III trials testing cardiovascular drugs included patients with concomitant cardiovascular, endocrine and metabolic diseases, but discrepancies were present with patients in daily practice. Development of guidelines for uniform collection and reporting of co-morbidity data in pre-marketing trials is recommended, as well as further utilization of data.

Angina Pectoris↗

Burnout and psychiatric morbidity among physicians engaged in end-of-life care for cancer patients: a cross-sectional nationwide survey in Japan.

PURPOSE: To determine the prevalence of burnout and psychiatric morbidity among physicians engaged in end-of-life care for cancer patients in Japan and to explore associated factors related to end-of-life care. METHODS: Questionnaires were mailed to 1436 Japanese clinical oncologists and palliative care physicians with a request to complete the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI), the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12), and to report on individual factors, including confidence in patient care. High levels of burnout and psychiatric morbidity were identified using cut-off scores of the MBI and GHQ-12. RESULTS: A total of 697 physicians returned the questionnaires (response rate, 49.6%). Twenty-two percent of the respondents had a high level of emotional exhaustion, 11% had a high level of depersonalization, 62% had a low level of personal accomplishment, and 20% had psychiatric morbidity. Clinical oncologists showed a significantly higher psychiatric morbidity than palliative care physicians. Confidence in having sufficient time to communicate with patients was significantly associated with all the burnout subscales. CONCLUSIONS: A low level of personal accomplishment was relatively high among Japanese physicians compared with previous studies. Insufficient confidence in the psychological care of patients was associated with physician burnout rather than involvement in end-of-life care.

Adult↗

Treatment decision difficulties and post-operative distress predict persistence of psychological morbidity in Chinese women following breast cancer surgery.

BACKGROUND: The patterns and determinants of longer-term psychological morbidity in women following breast cancer surgery have not been described for Chinese populations. METHODS: Chinese women were assessed at 3-days, 4-months and 8-months following breast surgery, on treatment decision-making difficulty (TDMD), satisfaction with treatment outcome (E-OI), self efficacy (GSeS), optimism (C-LOT-R), consultation satisfaction (C-MISS-R), physical symptom distress (PSD) and psychological morbidity (CHQ-12) and compared using polynomial logistic models. RESULTS: Of 303/405 women providing complete data, 33% received chemotherapy and 26% radiotherapy. GSeS, CLOTR and TDMD scores were moderate. Though the proportion of women meeting psychological morbidity case-criteria declined from 78% (95% Confidence Interval 73-83%) at Baseline to 64% (59-69%) at 8-months, almost 50% (44-54%) of women remained distressed over the 8-month period. After adjustment for demographic and clinical factors, severity of psychological morbidity at 4-months was predicted by PSD, disappointment and higher Baseline CHQ12, and among moderate/severe cases only, greater TDMD and pessimistic outlook. At 8-months, CHQ12 scores were predicted by PSD, Baseline CHQ-12, and difficulties with TDM. CONCLUSION: TDM difficulties, early post-surgical psychological and physical symptom distress indicate risk for prolonged distress in Chinese women following breast cancer surgery.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

Pseudomonas aeruginosa and other predictors of mortality and morbidity in young children with cystic fibrosis.

We conducted a registry-based study to determine prognostic indicators of 8-year mortality and morbidity in young children with cystic fibrosis (CF). Patients ages 1-5 years from the 1990 U.S. Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (CFF) National Patient Registry served as the study cohort (N = 3,323). Registry data provided information on baseline characteristics in 1990, 8-year mortality, and clinical outcomes in 1998.P. aeruginosa respiratory infection was found to be a major predictor of morbidity and mortality. The 8-year risk of death was 2.6 times higher in patients who had respiratory cultures positive for P. aeruginosa in 1990 (95% confidence interval 1.6, 4.1) than in children without P. aeruginosa in their respiratory cultures. Culture-positive patients in 1990 also had a significantly lower percent predicted forced expiratory volume in 1 sec (FEV(1)) and weight percentile at follow-up, and they had an increased risk of continued P. aeruginosa respiratory infection and hospitalization for acute respiratory exacerbation in 1998. Among the other predictors of increased morbidity and mortality were lower baseline weight percentiles and number of CF-related hospitalizations during the baseline year.These findings confirm reports from previous smaller studies of outcomes among young children with CF, and highlight the potential to decrease the morbidity and mortality of young patients with CF through early intervention.

Age Factors↗

The effect of sartorius transposition on wound morbidity following inguinal-femoral lymphadenectomy.

In spite of efforts to reduce complications associated with inguinal-femoral lymphadenectomy (IFL), morbidity continues to be substantial. We sought to assess the efficacy of sartorius transposition (ST) in reducing groin wound complications following IFL, in patients with vulvar malignancy. The records of 101 patients with vulvar cancer undergoing IFL through separate incisions between March 1975 and December 1994 were examined. Sixty-two patients undergoing ST (group 1) were compared to 38 who did not (group 2). The groups were similar with respect to age, weight, tobacco/alcohol use, prior abdominal/vulvar surgery, prevalence of diabetes, hypertension, or peripheral vascular disease, and previous exposure to irradiation or chemotherapy. Additionally, there was no significant difference with respect to extent of disease, incidence of macro-/microscopic groin metastases, use of groin drains, and use of perioperative antibiotics or deep venous thrombosis prophylaxis. Groin wound complications were less frequent in patients undergoing ST (group 1). The incidence of groin cellulitis was 30% in group 1 compared with an incidence of 58% in group 2 (P = 0.011). Significant groin wound morbidity, defined as either wound breakdown or cellulitis, was seen less frequently in group 1 (41% vs 66%; P = 0.029). Employing a multivariate analysis, only patient weight < 150 lbs and performance of ST were established as independently associated with a reduction in groin morbidity following IFL (P = 0.0281 and P = 0.0075, respectively). In conclusion, despite waning enthusiasm for its performance, ST appeared to significantly reduce the incidence of wound morbidity after IFL. Our data confirmed that separate incisions, and improved perioperative antibiotics, have not eliminated the value inherent in this surgical modification. We suggest a prospective trial to further establish the benefit of sartorius transposition during IFL.

Female↗

Co-morbid symptoms of depression and conduct disorder in First Nations children: some findings from the Flower of Two Soils Project.

The prominence of co-morbidity in children and adolescents has increased over the past decade as new empirical research data has accumulated. Yet little epidemiological data of any kind exists for First Nations Children. Following a brief literature review on co-morbidity in children and adolescents, the authors analyzed data from the Flower of Two Soils Project (M. Beiser, principal investigator) to examine more closely the relationship between self-reported depressive symptoms and parent/teacher reported conduct symptoms. Such a relationship has been consistently found in a number of studies. Children aged 7 to 10 were found to show more academic and social problems when rated as having high conduct symptoms. Children in the co-morbid group were found to have the highest rates of family stress and help-seeking behavior. Suicidal ideation was as high in the conduct and co-morbid groups as it was in the high depression group. More First Nations children were found in the high conduct-low depression group. The significance of these findings is discussed.

Adolescent↗

Importance of pre-existing co-morbidities for prognosis of septicemia in critically ill patients.

OBJECTIVE: To determine admission characteristics associated with the outcome of septicemia in critically ill patients and more specifically assess the prognostic value of pre-existing co-morbidities. DESIGN: 5 year-retrospective cohort study. SETTING: Surgical Intensive Care Unit (ICU-20 beds) in a 1600 bed-tertiary care center. PATIENTS: Among 5457 patients admitted to the ICU between 1984 and 1988, 176 (3.2%) met prospectively-defined criteria for blood culture-proven septicemia (8.77 per 1000 patient-days). Overall septicemic patients had a 5-fold increased risk of death compared to non-septicemic patients (relative risk 5.03, 95% confidence intervals 4.17-6.07, p < 0.0001), and this estimate persisted after stratification according to age, sex, primary diagnosis and conditions of admission to the ICU (emergency/elective). RESULTS: Prognostic factors recorded on admission to ICU that were associated with mortality from septicemia among 173 patients were older age, higher admission Apache II score, gastrointestinal surgery, ultimately and rapidly fatal diseases and the number of co-morbidities in addition to the principal diagnosis (active smoking, alcohol abuse, non-cured malignancy, diabetes mellitus, splenectomy, recent antibiotic therapy, major surgery, or major cardiac event). In the multivariate analysis with logistic regression procedures, Apache II and co-morbidities were identified as the two independent predictors of mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Pre-existing co-morbidities assessed at the admission to the ICU significantly improved the prediction of mortality from septicemia compared to Apache II score alone.

Adult↗