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Aim: The aim of this study was to compare the level of stress in mothers of school-aged children born late preterm and admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) with the level of maternal stress if a child was born late preterm and not admitted to the ICU as well as if a full-term child was admitted to the ICU.Methods: In this retrospective cohort study the data were gathered via telephone interview with mothers. The Parenting Stress Index/Short Form was used to determine the level of stress in mothers. Background demographic characteristics, medically relevant variables, and the level of stress were tested using the chi-square test and Kruskal-Wallis test. Logistic regression was used in order to identify predictors of significant level of stress.Results: Mothers of late preterm born children who were admitted to the ICU, as well as mothers of late preterm children who were not admitted had higher level of stress compared to mothers of full-term children. Namely, mothers of late preterm born children admitted to the ICU had 18-fold increase in risk for significant level of total stress (OR = 18.09; 95% CI 8.55 to 38.26) while 24-fold greater risk was observed in mothers of late preterm children who were not admitted to the ICU (OR = 24.05; 95% CI 10.66 to 54.26) in comparison to mothers of full-term born children.Conclusion: Results indicate that preterm birth and its complications are associated with a higher level of stress in mothers, that persists to school age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The changes in long-term quality of life (QOL) of children treated in paediatric intensive care unit (PICU) were investigated in relation to their QOL before critical illness together with the influence of underlying chronic health condition and severity of illness estimated by Paediatric Index of Mortality 2 on the long-term outcome. This study included 189 children treated in PICU and 179 children from outpatient clinics as controls. QOL was evaluated according to the Royal Alexandra Hospital for Children Measure of Function (RAHC MOF). The long-term QOL in 70 % of children treated in PICU was good, although there was a significant diminution of QOL in children treated in PICU in comparison with their preadmission scores and with the children from outpatient clinics who served as controls ( p < 0.001). Severity of illness had a significant impact on children's QOL ( p = 0.016) 6 months after treatment in PICU. Twenty-four months after discharge, the RAHC MOF score was still decreased in 19 % of children treated in PICU, and in significantly more patients with a chronic health condition (CHC) treated in PICU, than in their peers from outpatient clinics ( p = 0.029). Reduced QOL was significantly more frequent in children with neurodevelopmental disability than in children without CHC 24 months after discharge from PICU ( p = 0.013). Conclusion: Acute illness has a significant impact both on children with and without CHC after treatment in PICU 6 months after discharge. Twenty-four months after discharge, comorbidity was identified as the decisive factor for diminished QOL in children after PICU treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Hyperinflammatory response that resembles Kawasaki disease may develop in children after COVID-19 disease, and it is called multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children. The cause of MIS-C is dysregulated innate immune response and a subsequent cytokine storm that results in endothelial damage. It has been determined that low levels of serum 25(OH)D increase the risk of developing immune-related diseases and disorders. Methods: To determine the incidence of hypovitaminosis D, and a possible correlation between 25(OH)D levels and the clinical severity of MIS-C, 21 patients hospitalized in the University Hospital of Split due to MIS-C were evaluated. Results: Hypovitaminosis D was detected in 95% of MIS-C patients. We found a significant relationship between the severity of MIS-C and 25(OH)D levels, as patients with more severe MIS-C had lower 25(OH)D. MIS-C patients with lower vitamin D levels had worse systolic and diastolic function of the left ventricle according to echocardiograms. There was no relationship between 25(OH)D levels and the tested laboratory inflammatory and cardiac markers. Conclusion: Hypovitaminosis D is very common in children with MIS-C and influences the severity of the disease. VD could be a new potential biomarker in MIS-C, and VD replacement therapy should be considered early on in the treatment of MIS-C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: One of the frequently used methods for assessing research trends and the impact of published scientific literature in a particular discipline is citation analysis. Journals may strive to improve their metrics by choosing manuscripts and study designs that are more likely to be cited. The aim of this study was to identify the 50 most-cited articles in the field of pediatrics, analyze their study design and other characteristics of those articles, and assess the prevalence of systematic reviews among them.Methods: In December 2017, we searched Web of Science (WoS) for all articles published in the field of pediatrics. Two authors screened articles independently and in the further analysis included 50 articles with the highest number of citations. To avoid bias for scientific papers published earlier, the citation density was calculated. We also analyzed Journal Impact Factor (JIF) of journals where citation classics were published.Results: The citation density in top 50 cited articles in the field of pediatrics ranged from 33.16 to 432.8, with the average of 119.95. Most of the articles reported clinical science. Median 2016 JIF for journals that published them was 6.226 (range: 2.778 to 72.406). Half of the top 10 highly cited articles in pediatrics were published in a journal with JIF below 5. Most of the studies among the citation classics in pediatrics were cross-sectional studies (N = 22), followed by non-systematic narrative reviews (N = 10), randomized controlled trials (N = 5), cohort studies (N = 5), systematic reviews (N = 2), case-control studies (N = 2), case reports (N = 2), and there was one study protocol and one expert opinion.Conclusion: Few randomized controlled trials and systematic reviews were among citation classics in the field of pediatrics. Articles that use observational research methodology, and are published in journals with lower impact factors, can become citation classics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Evaluates the applicability of the Australian and New Zealand Paediatric Intensive Care (ANZPIC) Registry diagnostic codes and Paediatric Index of Mortality (PIM) 2 scoring system in a Croatian paediatric intensive care unit. Use of ANZPIC Registry diagnostic codes in conjunction with PIM2; Validity of the PIM2 scoring system; Efficacy of ANZPIC Registry and PIM2 as international diagnostic coding system.

Aim: To analyze the quality of life after Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) treatment and compare the differences between quality of life in children who suffer chronic health conditions, and those who do not, post discharge from PICU. Method: Quality of life was assessed using the Royal Alexandra Hospital for Children (RAHC) Measure of Function which incorporates measures of domains that delineate severity or impact of disease symptoms, physical disability, mobility, emotional distress, behavior, deviation from normal growth and development, impairment in social rules, and performance at school and in leisure activities. Results: Families of 371 children were contacted for RAHC Measure of Function scoring. The results showed that the majority of children with no chronic condition (88.8%), as well as those with a chronic condition other than neurodevelopmental disability (81.6%) had minimal ongoing health problems and good quality of life. Only 21.4% of children with neurodevelopmental disabilities fell into this category, 39.3% had poor quality of life and 39.3% had fair quality of life. Conclusion: The results suggest that the majority of patients discharged from the PICU go on to have a good quality of life. The quality of life of patients with other chronic condition did not differ significantly from children who did not suffer from a chronic condition, with the majority of both groups having minimal residual health problems. Conversely, children with neurodevelopmental disabilities were found to have a higher level of health problems and only a fair quality of life compared with the other two groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]