Abstract
BackgroundContemporary critical care research necessitates involvement of multiple centers, preferably from many countries. Adult and pediatric research networks have produced outstanding data; however, their involvement is restricted to a small percentage of the industrialized nations. Implementation of their findings in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) is fraught with challenges.MethodsWe conducted an online international survey to assess and compare disease burden and resources to participate in multicenter research studies through a listserv of the World Federation of Pediatric Intensive and Critical Care Societies. Respondents were grouped into high-income countries and LMICs on the basis of World Bank classification.ResultsSurvey was completed by 73 centers in 34 countries (34 from high-income countries and 39 from LMICs). Compared with high-income countries, the pediatric intensive care units in LMICs were characterized by a lower number of critical care specialists, more difficult access to hemodialysis, and a lower number of elective postoperative patients, but a similar overall disease burden. Training and resources for research were comparable in the two cohorts.ConclusionsAlthough differences exist in access to both trained providers and equipment, the survey results were more striking in their similarity. It is essential that centers from LMICs be included in multinational studies, to generate results applicable to all children worldwide.
Highlights
Contemporary critical care research necessitates involvement of multiple centers, preferably from many countries
Much of the critical care (CC) evidence base has come from resourcerich countries [5]; research from low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) represents only a small fraction of CC research performed around the planet [6,7,8]
The other areas were classified as upper-middle-income countries (UMICs), LMICs, and low-income countries (LICs) as resource-limited
Summary
Contemporary critical care research necessitates involvement of multiple centers, preferably from many countries. Adult and pediatric research networks have produced outstanding data; their involvement is restricted to a small percentage of the industrialized nations. Implementation of their findings in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) is fraught with challenges. The delivery of pediatric critical care (CC) in resourcerich regions has progressed dramatically over recent decades, with markedly improved outcomes for critically ill children around the planet. Individual countries have previously published data on the resources [3, 4], no large international study has compared resources among the different parts of the world. Much of the CC evidence base has come from resourcerich countries [5]; research from low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) represents only a small fraction of CC research performed around the planet [6,7,8]
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