The need for hemodialysis is associated with increased mortality in mechanically ventilated children: a propensity score–matched outcome study

Kidney replacement therapy (KRT) is frequently used in critically ill children. The objective of this study is to investigate if the requirement for hemodialysis (HD) is an independent risk factor for mortality in mechanically ventilated children

In this retrospective cohort study, we analyzed the 2012 and 2016 Kids Inpatient Database and used a weighted sample to obtain a national outcome estimate. For our analysis, we included children aged one month to 17 years who were mechanically ventilated; we then compared the demographics, comorbidities, and mortality rates of those patients who had undergone HD with those who did not. Statistical analysis was performed using the chi-squared test and regression models. The patients were matched 1:2 with a correlative propensity score using age, weekend admission, elective admission, gender, hospital region, income quartiles, race, presence of kidney failure, bone marrow transplantation (BMT), cardiac surgery, trauma, and All Patients Refined Diagnosis Related Groups (APR-DRG) severity score. The mortality rate was compared between the matched groups.

Out of 100,289 mechanically ventilated children, 1393 (1.4%) underwent HD. The mortality rate was 32.5% in the HD group, compared with 8.8% in the control group (p < 0.05). Factors that were associated with higher mortality in HD patients included severe sepsis, BMT, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation therapy (ECMO). After propensity score–matched analysis, HD was still significantly associated with a higher risk of mortality (31.9% vs. 22.0%, p < 0.05)

The requirement for HD in mechanically ventilated children is associated with higher mortality.