Pediatric Research Articles

Incidence of injury and illness among paediatric Team USA athletes competing in the 2020 Tokyo and 2022 Beijing Olympic and Paralympic Games

ObjectiveTo describe the incidence of injuries and illnesses among paediatric Team USA athletes competing in the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games, and the 2022 Beijing Olympic and Paralympic Games.MethodsAn...

HTA314 A Review of Pediatric Medicines Assessed by NICE Between 2018 and 2023

HTA314 A Review of Pediatric Medicines Assessed by NICE Between 2018 and 2023

HPR54 Policy Approaches to the Regulation and Reimbursement of Pediatric Medicines: Comparing Canadian, European, and UK Health Systems

HPR54 Policy Approaches to the Regulation and Reimbursement of Pediatric Medicines: Comparing Canadian, European, and UK Health Systems

ERS International Congress 2023: highlights from the Paediatrics Assembly.

Respiratory health in children is essential for general wellbeing and healthy development in the short and long term. It is well known that many respiratory diseases in adulthood have their origins in early life, and therefore research on prevention of respiratory diseases and management of children with respiratory diseases will benefit patients during the full life course. Scientific and clinical advances in the field of respiratory health are moving at a fast pace. This article summarises some of the highlights in paediatric respiratory medicine presented at the hybrid European Respiratory Society (ERS) International Congress 2023 which took place in Milan (Italy). Selected sessions are summarised by Early Career Members of the Paediatrics Assembly (Assembly 7) under the supervision of senior ERS officers, and cover a wide range of research areas in children, including respiratory physiology and sleep, asthma and allergy, cystic fibrosis, respiratory infection and immunology, neonatology and intensive care, respiratory epidemiology and bronchology.

Young patients’ involvement in a composite endpoint method development on acceptability for paediatric oral dosage forms

BackgroundIn line with the European Paediatric Regulation, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) asks for investigation of a medicine’s acceptability in paediatric medicines development. A standardised acceptability testing method combining the outcome of “swallowability” and “palatability” assessments to a “composite endpoint on acceptability” was recently developed. Before this method’s suitability for selection of the most acceptable drug formulation of a new medicine for children can be broadly recommended, the acceptance and relevance of such established acceptability needs the critical review and input from young patients with understanding of the medicines development methodology. The benefit of involving patients in drug product development, clinical research and innovation is well established.MethodsDuring a focus group meeting with the KIDS Barcelona (young people advisory group, age 16–23 years) the suitability of the “composite endpoint on acceptability” methodology was assessed. Via electronic questionnaires the importance of involving patients in the medicines development and in the acceptability method development was investigated. Questions on how best to determine palatability and swallowability were asked. The relevance of all EMA-listed acceptability elements was assessed via coloured and numbered stickers and questionnaires.ResultsThe results showed that the involvement of young people in the medicines and acceptability method development was rated high. The group worked out that a 5-point smiley Likert Scale is preferred for assessing acceptability by 6–11 year old patients, while a Visual Analogue Scale is preferred for collecting adolescents’ opinion. The ranking of the EMA-listed acceptability elements showed that palatability and swallowability are the most relevant parameters, while colour of the medicine was rated as least relevant. These results, established face-to-face, were confirmed in a repeat of the ranking through an electronic questionnaire, completed by the participants individually and remotely, 5 weeks later.ConclusionThis work reinforced the need and value to involve young people in the medicines lifecycle, and specifically in this acceptability method development. As next step other focus group meetings with more young people from different European countries are planned.

Genu Valgum in Pediatric Patients Presenting With Patellofemoral Instability.

Lower extremity valgus is a commonly described factor associated with patellofemoral instability (PFI) and, if identified before skeletal maturity, can be treated with guided growth. The prevalence of valgus alignment in the pediatric and adolescent PFI population is largely unknown. The aim of this study was to report the prevalence of valgus alignment in adolescent patients presenting with PFI; with secondary assessment of high-grade valgus (zone II or III), coronal asymmetry, and associations of these findings with body mass index (BMI). A retrospective cohort study. A total of 279 consecutive patients (349 knees) with a diagnosis of PFI presenting to a single orthopedic pediatric sport medicine surgeon were identified. A retrospective chart review was performed to collect demographic and clinical data, chronologic and bone age, sex, BMI, mechanism of injury, and the presence of osteochondral fracture. Full-length standing hip-to-ankle alignment radiographs were graded for knee alignment mechanical zone utilizing standard linear femoral head center to talar center assessment. In addition, mechanical axis deviation, mechanical lateral distal femoral angle and medial proximal tibial angle (MPTA) were also calculated. Mean patient age was 14.0±2.5 years. There were 162 (58.1%) females and mean BMI was 24.3±6.4. Seventy patients (25.1%) had bilateral PFI. Standing alignment radiographs were available for 81.4% of knees (n=284). Valgus alignment was present in 172 knees with PFI (60.6%). High-grade valgus, defined as zone 2 or greater, was present in 66 knees (23.3%). Overall, 48.9% had asymmetry of coronal alignment (n=139). The mean mechanical lateral distal femoral angle was 85.4±2.8 and the mean MPTA was 88.2±2.6. There was a greater MPTA in female patients (88.8±2.4 vs. 87.5±2.7, P <0.001). A higher BMI (24.87±6.95, P =0.03) was associated with valgus alignment. There is a high (60%) prevalence of lower extremity valgus in adolescent patients presenting with PFI, with nearly 1 in 4 presenting with high-grade valgus. The treatment team should be aware of this association as it may be an important consideration in the pediatric and adolescent PFI populations. Level III.

Disparities in Management of Acute Gastroenteritis in Hospitalized Children.

Acute gastroenteritis (AGE) is a common health care problem accounting for up to 200 000 pediatric hospitalizations annually. Previous studies show disparities in the management of children from different ethnic backgrounds presenting to the emergency department with AGE. Our aim was to evaluate whether differences in medical management also exist between Hispanic and non-Hispanic children hospitalized with AGE. We performed a single-center retrospective study of children aged 2 months to 12 years admitted to the pediatric hospital medicine service from January 2016 to December 2020 with a diagnosis of (1) acute gastroenteritis or (2) dehydration with feeding intolerance, vomiting, and/or diarrhea. Differences in clinical pathway use, diagnostic studies performed, and medical interventions ordered were compared between Hispanic and non-Hispanic patients. Of 512 admissions, 54.9% were male, 51.6% were Hispanic, and 59.2% were on Medicaid. There was no difference between Hispanic and non-Hispanic patients in reported nausea or vomiting at admission, pathway use, or laboratory testing including stool studies. However, after adjusting for covariates, Hispanic patients had more ultrasound scans performed (odds ratio 1.65, 95% confidence interval 1.04-2.64) and fewer orders for antiemetics (odds ratio 0.53, 95% CI 0.29-0.95) than non-Hispanic patients. Although there were no differences in many aspects of AGE management between Hispanic and non-Hispanic patients, there was still variability in ultrasound scans performed and antiemetics ordered, despite similarities in reported abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting. Prospective and/or qualitative studies may be needed to clarify underlying reasons for these differences.

Attitudes on Artificial Intelligence use in Pediatric Care From Parents of Hospitalized Children

IntroductionArtificial intelligence (AI) may benefit pediatric healthcare, but it also raises ethical and pragmatic questions. Parental support is important for the advancement of AI in pediatric medicine. However, there is little literature describing parental attitudes toward AI in pediatric healthcare, and existing studies do not represent parents of hospitalized children well. MethodsWe administered the Attitudes toward Artificial Intelligence in Pediatric Healthcare, a validated survey, to parents of hospitalized children in a single tertiary children’s hospital. Surveys were administered by trained study personnel (11/2/2021-5/1/2022). Demographic data were collected. An Attitudes toward Artificial Intelligence in Pediatric Healthcare score, assessing openness toward AI-assisted medicine, was calculated for seven areas of concern. Subgroup analyses were conducted using Mann–Whitney U tests to assess the effect of race, gender, education, insurance, length of stay, and intensive care unit (ICU) admission on AI use. ResultsWe approached 90 parents and conducted 76 surveys for a response rate of 84%. Overall, parents were open to the use of AI in pediatric medicine. Social justice, convenience, privacy, and shared decision-making were important concerns. Parents of children admitted to an ICU expressed the most significantly different attitudes compared to parents of children not admitted to an ICU. ConclusionsParents were overall supportive of AI-assisted healthcare decision-making. In particular, parents of children admitted to ICU have significantly different attitudes, and further study is needed to characterize these differences. Parents value transparency and disclosure pathways should be developed to support this expectation.

Survey of Pediatric Critical Care Fellows on Postresuscitation Debriefing.

Current guidelines recommend debriefing following medical resuscitations to improve patient outcomes. The goal of this study was to describe national trends in postresuscitation debriefing practices among pediatric critical care medicine (PCCM) fellows to identify potential gaps in fellow education. A 13-item survey was distributed to fellows in all 76 ACGME-accredited PCCM programs in the United States in the spring of 2021. The online survey addressed frequency and timing of debriefings following medical resuscitations, whether formal training is provided, which medical professionals are present, and providers' comfort level leading a debriefing. Results were analyzed using descriptive statistics. A total of 102 responses (out of a possible N of 536) were gathered from current PCCM fellows. All fellows (100%) reported participation in a medical resuscitation. Only 21% stated that debriefings occurred after every resuscitation event, and 44% did not follow a structured protocol for debriefing. While 66% reported feeling very or somewhat comfortable leading the debriefing, 19% felt either somewhat uncomfortable or very uncomfortable. A vast majority (92%) of participating fellows believed that debriefing would be helpful in improving team member performance during future resuscitations, and 92% expressed interest in learning more about debriefing. The majority of PCCM fellows do not receive formal training on how to lead a debriefing. Given that 74% of fellows in our study did not feel very comfortable leading a debriefing but almost universally expressed that this practice is useful for provider well-being and performance, there is a clear need for increased incorporation of debriefing training into PCCM curricula across the United States.

Transition care to adolescent hepatology in a tertiary center for rare adult–child liver disease

AimsThis study analyzed the results of a transition program in a patient population with a rare liver disease of pediatric onset. MethodData were collected on the clinical course of an adolescent population with a rare disease of pediatric onset and enrolled in a transition program between 1994 and 2022. ResultsA total of 238 adolescents (including 34 having undergone a liver transplant on enrolling in the program) were included. Eight patients were lost to follow-up before the first transition consultation and 16 families requested follow-up in an adult hepatology department closer to their home. Overall, 214 initial transition consultations were carried out; 29 patients were subsequently lost to follow-up and 13 switched center. Overall, 15.4 % of the patients enrolled in our program were lost to follow-up. Five adult patients underwent a liver transplantation during this 28-year period. Overall mortality was 3.2 %, graft survival was 91.5 %, and posttransplant survival was 92 %. In total, the current active file represents 183 patients with a median age of 24.3 years (18–51) and a median follow-up period of 5.8 years (6 months to 28 years). ConclusionThe implementation of a transition program to adult medicine for adolescents with a rare liver disease should follow the recommendations but must be adapted in line with local practice conditions. This process requires close collaboration between the pediatric and adult medicine teams based on a mutual desire to constantly improve practices and enhance knowledge.

Evaluating the Academic Performance of Mustansiriyah Medical College Teaching Staff vs. Final-Year Students Failure Rates

Background: Evaluating medical colleges' teaching staff performance is an essential topic for evaluating academic performance. Objective: To assess the academic performance of the teaching staff in the pediatric, surgical, and gynecology branches in comparison to the medicine branch performance from 2014 to 2018. Methods: The total number and the number of failed students being examined in final years were obtained officially from the examination committee in Mustansiriyah Medical College for the final 6th-year students for the four main branches (medicine, pediatrics, surgery, and obstetrics and gynecology). The students' number in the medicine branch was used as the control group against which the performance of other branches was compared. We utilized the odds ratio from meta-analysis statistics and compared student failure and success rates. Results: The odd ratio of pediatric branch performance versus medicine branch was 1.02 with a 95% confidence interval of 0.68–1.53, while for surgery, it was 0.67 with a 95% CI (0.46 to 0.98) and 3.13 with a 95% CI (1.79 to 5.47) for the obstetrics and the gynecology departments. Conclusion: The performance of the pediatric branch was the only one compatible with the performance of the medicine branch. In contrast, both the surgery and gynecology branches significantly deviated from the medicine branch's performance. Further research is needed to pinpoint the causes of these performance deviations.

Navigating child product safety: Perspectives from experts on international challenges and priorities in regulation and research

ObjectiveTo elicit and summarise collective expert opinion on contemporary child product safety risks, challenges and priorities. MethodsAn online survey targeted international experts from a cross-section of product safety fields. ResultsFifty-five experts participated, representing 1,137 years of product safety experience, from a broad range of fields including industry risk management, product assessment and testing, policy and regulation, research, paediatric medicine, advocacy and product liability. Participants identified the leading product safety hazards across all age brackets as falls, drowning and chemical hazards, with variance in specific age brackets, particularly the threat to breathing hazards for infants. The leading products of concern to experts were electrical connection/distribution products, primarily button batteries and lithium-ion batteries, infant furnishing products and household furniture. Product safety priorities and challenges were identified under five themes: regulatory, surveillance, industry, consumer and product-specific. ConclusionsThe gains in knowledge, insight and understanding from experts on contemporary child product safety risks and issues should inform policy and future research. Implications for Public HealthThere are significant consequences of unsafe consumer products on population health, and the results are timely as we face new product safety issues emerging from e-commerce, the digital transition and innovative product technologies.

Acceptability of Dyad Care Management After Preterm Birth: A Qualitative Study.

Care management programs for medically complex infants interact with parents after complicated pregnancies, when gaps in maternal health care are well documented. These care managers may have the relationships and skills to promote postpartum and interconception health and health care access. It is unknown whether expanding these care management models to address maternal needs would be acceptable. We conducted qualitative interviews with women with a history of preterm birth and clinicians. For women with a history of preterm birth, additional inclusion criteria were Medicaid-insured infant in one health system and English proficiency. We purposively oversampled women whose infants received care management. Clinicians worked in two geographically adjacent health systems. Interviews explored priorities after preterm birth and perceived acceptability of mother-infant dyad care management. Interviews were audio recorded, transcribed, and coded following an integrated approach in which we applied a priori codes and captured emergent themes. We interviewed 33 women (10/2018-7/2021) and 24 clinicians (3/2021-8/2021). Women were predominantly non-Hispanic Black, and 15 had infants receiving care management. Clinicians included physicians, nurses, and social workers from Pediatrics, Obstetrics, and Family Medicine. Subgroups converged thematically, finding care management acceptable. Tailoring programs to address stress and sleep, emphasizing care managers with strong interpersonal skills and shared experiences with care management users, and program flexibility would contribute to acceptability. Dyad care management after preterm birth is acceptable to potential program end-users and clinicians. Dyad health promotion may contribute to improved birth outcomes, infant, and parent health.

What to consider for successful administration of oral liquids via enteral feeding tubes? a case study with paediatric ibuprofen suspensions

Administration of medications via enteral feeding tubes (EFTs) is a common practice for children who cannot swallow properly. Although liquid formulations are the preferred dosage forms for this route of administration, little attention has been paid to the amount of drug that reaches the site of absorption after administration via an EFT. This systematic in vitro study aimed to identify formulation parameters and administration approaches that are critical for successful dose delivery via EFTs. For this purpose, drug recovery after administration of three different paediatric ibuprofen suspensions via different types of EFTs was studied using derivative UV spectrophotometry for quantification. Study results indicate that in addition to formulation parameters, feeding tube characteristics and the administration process can have a significant impact on the administered dose. The ratio between the total administered fluid volume (TAV), represented by the sum of dose- and flushing volume, and the feeding tube volume (FTV) proved to be a valuable indicator for assessing successful administration. Incorrect dosing and complications could be avoided if the TAV/FTV ratio was greater than 4. This and other knowledge gained in the study will help to make the administration of liquid paediatric medicines via EFTs both more effective and safer.

Putting the Mix in Mixed Methods Research.

Research and quality improvement in pediatric hospital medicine often benefit from using mixed methods research (MMR) approaches. MMR requires the intentional collection, analysis, and mixing, or integration, of both quantitative and qualitative data to build on their complementary strengths to answer complex research questions. In this methodology paper, we define MMR, describe its characteristics, the importance of integration, and outline the core designs of explanatory sequential, exploratory sequential, and convergent MMR by illustrating practical examples from pediatric hospital medicine.

Abstract 17466: Impact of the Covid-19 Pandemic on Pediatric Cholesterol Screening Rates

Introduction: Universal cholesterol screening during childhood has been recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics since 2011, but most children remain unscreened. We hypothesized that the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent disruptions in routine healthcare impacted pediatric cholesterol screening rates and may have disproportionately affected children based on race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status (SES), or rural/urban status. Hypothesis: The COVID-19 pandemic impacted pediatric lipid screening rates based on race, ethnicity, SES, and rural/urban status. Methods: The provider order placement rate (OPR) for a screening cholesterol panel was calculated for established patients 9-21 years old at a single institution pre-pandemic (3/18/2019-3/17/2020), mid-pandemic (3/18/2020-3/17/2021), late-pandemic (3/18/2021-3/17/2022), and post-pandemic (3/18/2022-12/31/2022). OPR was analyzed, including a chi-squared test, based on race, ethnicity, SES, rural/urban status, and the department of the visit. Results: Overall OPR fell over time and in both pediatric and family medicine specialties. There was a decrease in OPR across all race and ethnicity groups, though most did not reach statistical significance. Urban advantaged, urban, and rural underserved had a disproportionately larger decrease in OPR, though all groups had a lower OPR at the end of the study. Conclusions: The OPR decrease in late- and post-pandemic stages may be due to the pandemic. Though OPR differences existed between some rural/urban statuses and the ordering department pre-pandemic, these factors may have worsened these gaps. Future studies are needed to identify and address barriers to pediatric cholesterol screening.

Pediatric surgical contributions of Professor Aleksandrs Biezins: an analysis of clinical and academic activities abroad

Background. The relevance of the study of the trips of Professor Aleksandrs Biezins lies in the need to highlight the most important trips for the professor, which affected his further studies, as well as the features of the application of his methods in medicine. The purpose of the article is to study the activities of Aleksandrs Biezins, his achievements, and successes in the field of pediatric surgery, as well as other areas of medicine for a more in-depth description of the outstanding surgeon. Materials and methods. The main methods used in the article include historical and analytical ones. Results. The main results are the study of the professor’s professional activities abroad, as well as within his main place of work. Medical surgeon, Aleksandrs Biezins (1897–1975), called the founder of pediatric surgery, actively practiced it and worked in the development of medicine and science, is one of the most prominent figures in pediatric surgery and medicine. The use of the information obtained in the study will be useful for a deeper and more detailed study of the work of the professor, as well as for studying the interaction of surgeons with Aleksandrs Biezins in the early and middle of the 21st century. Conclusions. In addition to his practical work in pediatric surgery and science, education of young physicians, for the scientific purposes of his missions, he was an active participant in medical forums, congresses, conferences in pediatrics, pediatric surgery, sports pedagogy, as well as actively trained in various foreign clinics.

Pharmaceutical Excipients In The Paediatric Formulation

This review focus on the role of excipients used in paediatric dosage of therapeutic agents. This theoretical study seeks to critically review the use of excipients in the paediatric formulation. this review describes the most frequent excipients used in paediatric medicine formulations, identifying the compounds that scientific literature has marked as potentially harmful regarding the side effects generated after exposure. On the other hand, this review also highlights the importance of carrying out safety -checks on the excipients, which, in most cases, are linked to toxicity studies

Medication Safety Gaps in English Pediatric Inpatient Units: An Exploration Using Work Domain Analysis.

Medication is a common cause of preventable medical harm in pediatric inpatients. This study aimed to examine the sociotechnical system surrounding pediatric medicines management, to identify potential gaps in this system and how these might contribute to adverse drug events (ADEs). An exploratory prospective qualitative study in pediatric wards in three hospitals in the north of England was conducted between October 2020 and May 2022. Analysis included a documentary analysis of 72 policies and procedures and analysis of field notes from 60 hours of participant observation. The cognitive work analysis prompt framework was used to generate a work domain analysis (WDA) and identify potential contributory factors to ADEs. The WDA identified 2 functional purposes, 7 value/priority measures, 6 purpose-related functions, 11 object-related processes and 14 objects. Structured means-ends connections supported identification of 3 potential contributory factors-resource limitations, cognitive demands, and adaptation of processes. The lack of resources (equipment, materials, knowledge, and experience) created an environment where distractions and interruptions were unavoidable. Families helped provide practical support in medicines administration but were largely unacknowledged at an organizational level. There was a lack of teamwork with regards to medication with different professionals responsible for different parts of the system. Mandated safety checks on medicines were frequently omitted because of limited resources and perceived redundancy. Interventions to support adherence to safety policies were also often bypassed because they created more work. The WDA has provided insights into the complex system of medication safety for children in hospital and has facilitated the identification of potential contributory factors to ADEs. We therefore advocate (in priority order) for processes to involve parents in the care of their children in hospital, development of skill-mix interventions to ensure appropriate expertise is available where it is needed, and modified checking procedures to permit staff to use their skills and judgment effectively and efficiently.

The 2023 American Academy of Neurology, American Academy of Pediatrics, Child Neurology Society, and Society of Critical Care Medicine Pediatric and Adult Brain Death/Death by Neurologic Criteria Determination Consensus Guidelines: What the Critical Care Team Needs to Know.

Guidelines for brain death/death by neurologic criteria (BD/DNC) determination were revised to provide a consistent and updated approach to BD/DNC evaluation across all ages by the American Academy of Neurology, American Academy of Pediatrics, Child Neurology Society, and Society of Critical Care Medicine. This article is intended to complement the guidelines and highlight aspects relevant to the critical care community; the actual guidelines should be used to update hospital protocols and dictate clinical practice. Because BD/DNC evaluations are conducted in the ICU, it is essential for members of the critical care community to familiarize themselves with these guidelines. The fundamental concept of BD/DNC has not changed; BD/DNC is permanent loss of function of the brain as a whole, including the brain stem, resulting in coma, brainstem areflexia, and apnea in the setting of an adequate stimulus. The BD/DNC evaluation requires a sufficient observation period to ensure there is no chance of recovery, followed by exclusion of potentially confounding conditions like hypothermia, hypotension, severe metabolic disturbances, or medication effects. Specific guidance is provided for patients who were treated with therapeutic hypothermia or medical or surgical interventions to manage intracranial hypertension. The guidelines outline a structured and meticulous neurologic examination and detail the responses consistent with BD/DNC. A protocol is provided for how to safely perform apnea testing, including modifications needed for patients on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. Controversial issues such as consent, BD/DNC evaluation in pregnancy, preservation of neuroendocrine function, and primary posterior fossa injuries are addressed. The ultimate goal is to ensure a consistent and accurate approach to BD/DNC evaluation in patients of all ages, fostering public trust in the medical community's ability to determine death. By adhering to these guidelines, critical care clinicians can confidently navigate the challenging aspects of BD/DNC determination.