Factors Associated With PICU Admission In Children With Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome (MIS-C): An Observational Cohort Study

Abstract

PURPOSE: To investigate factors associated with Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) admission in children with severe MIS-C. METHODS: We conducted an observational cohort study between July 1, 2020, and May 31, 2021, in the only pediatric hospital in Tunisia. RESULTS: A total of 45 children (33 males) with no recent history of COVID-19 infection were included. Mean age was 7±3.2 years. Sixteen patients (35%) required PICU admission. There was no significant difference in mean age of patients with and without PICU admission (7.5±2.7 vs. 6.76±3.46 years; p=0.4). The frequency of respiratory distress (p=0.001), shock (p=0.001), cardiac dysfunction (p=0.003), mean CRP (p=0.001), and median troponin (p=0.003) were significantly higher in patients with PICU admission than in those without. The independent predictive factor for PICU admission was cardiac dysfunction; adjusted Odds Ratio (aOR) = 12.8, 95% CI = (2.1-76.4), p=0.002. CONCLUSION: The only independent risk factor for PICU admission in patients with MIS-C was cardiac dysfunction.