T Ingviya et al. JPGN 2021; 73: 86-92. Clinical Predictors of Morbidity and Mortality in Hospitalized Pediatric Patients With Ascites

Methods: A retrospective cohort study was performed on patients (n=518) ages 0 to 21 hospitalized at Johns Hopkins Hospital between 1983 and 2010 with an ICD-9 discharge diagnosis of ascites

Key findings:

• Among the 3 age groups (0–5, 6–12, and 13–21), the 0 to 5 age group experienced significantly increased length of stay (LOS) (P < 0.001) and mortality (P = 0.027).
• Ascites etiology of veno-occlusive disease (VOD) and the presence of hydrothorax or thrombocytopenia was also significantly associated with increased LOS.
• Ascites with the etiology of congestive hepatopathy and the presence of grade 3 ascites, hepatic encephalopathy, hepatorenal syndrome, hydrothorax, hyponatremia, and thrombocytopenia were associated with increased mortality.
• Black pediatric patients with ascites have an increased risk of mortality

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