Introduction: Children with thrombocytopenia often face complications in their management and prognosis as a result of this hematological disorder. Thrombocytopenia was investigated among inpatients of the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) of Akbar Hospital in 2020, as well as associated factors.
Methods: PICU admissions at Akbar Hospital from January to December 2020 were examined in a retrospective cohort study. The inclusion criteria included patients with documented platelet counts between 0 and 18 years old. Thrombocytopenia was defined as a platelet count below 150,000/µL. There were a number of demographic data collected along with a number of clinical diagnoses, treatment methods, and outcomes. It was found that the proportions for both continuous and categorical variables could be calculated using standard deviations (SDs) and frequencies, respectively, using statistical analysis. As part of the multivariate logistic regression analysis, factors independent of thrombocytopenia have been identified by using multivariate logistic regression.
Results: Out of 450 PICU admissions, 185 (41.1%) developed thrombocytopenia. The mean age of affected patients was 5.4 ± 3.2 years. The mean platelet count at the nadir was 98,500 ± 28,200/µL. Factors significantly associated with thrombocytopenia included sepsis (OR 2.45, 95% CI 1.50-4.00), mechanical ventilation (OR 1.85, 95% CI 1.10-3.10), and length of stay (mean 12.7 ± 5.3 days versus 8.3 ± 4.1 days, p < 0.01). Mortality was higher in the thrombocytopenic group (25.4% vs. 10.3%, p < 0.001).
Conclusion: There is an increased risk of morbidity and mortality associated with thrombocytopenia in PICU patients as well. Prolonged hospital stays, sepsis, and mechanical ventilation pose significant risks. Improved outcomes may be possible if thrombocytopenia is identified and managed early.
Keywords: Thrombocytopenia, Pediatric Intensive Care, Incidence, Risk Factors, Mortality