TY - JOUR
T1 - Comparative Effectiveness of Dexamethasone versus Prednisone in Children Hospitalized with Asthma
AU - Parikh, Kavita
AU - Hall, Matt
AU - Mittal, Vineeta
AU - Montalbano, Amanda
AU - Gold, Jessica
AU - Mahant, Sanjay
AU - Wilson, Karen M.
AU - Shah, Samir S.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2015 Elsevier Inc.
PY - 2015/9/1
Y1 - 2015/9/1
N2 - Objectives To study the comparative effectiveness of dexamethasone vs prednisone/prednisolone in children hospitalized with asthma exacerbation not requiring intensive care. Study design This multicenter retrospective cohort study, using the Pediatric Health Information System, included children aged 4-17 years who were hospitalized with a principal diagnosis of asthma between January 1, 2007 and December 31, 2012. Children with chronic complex condition and/or initial intensive care unit (ICU) management were excluded. Propensity score matching was used to detect differences in length of stay (LOS), readmissions, ICU transfer, and cost between groups. Results 40 257 hospitalizations met inclusion criteria; 1166 (2.9%) received only dexamethasone. In the matched cohort (N = 1284 representing 34 hospitals), the LOS was significantly shorter in the dexamethasone group compared with the prednisone/prednisolone group. The proportion of subjects with a LOS of 3 days or more was 6.7% in the dexamethasone group and 12% in the prednisone/prednisolone group (P =.002). Differences in all-cause readmission at 7- and 30 days were not statistically significant. The dexamethasone group had lower costs of index admission ($2621 vs $2838; P <.001) and total episode of care (including readmissions) ($2624 vs $2856; P <.001) compared with the prednisone/prednisolone group. There were no clinical significant differences in ICU transfer or readmissions between groups. Conclusions Dexamethasone may be considered an alternative to prednisone/prednisolone for children hospitalized with asthma exacerbation not requiring admission to intensive care.
AB - Objectives To study the comparative effectiveness of dexamethasone vs prednisone/prednisolone in children hospitalized with asthma exacerbation not requiring intensive care. Study design This multicenter retrospective cohort study, using the Pediatric Health Information System, included children aged 4-17 years who were hospitalized with a principal diagnosis of asthma between January 1, 2007 and December 31, 2012. Children with chronic complex condition and/or initial intensive care unit (ICU) management were excluded. Propensity score matching was used to detect differences in length of stay (LOS), readmissions, ICU transfer, and cost between groups. Results 40 257 hospitalizations met inclusion criteria; 1166 (2.9%) received only dexamethasone. In the matched cohort (N = 1284 representing 34 hospitals), the LOS was significantly shorter in the dexamethasone group compared with the prednisone/prednisolone group. The proportion of subjects with a LOS of 3 days or more was 6.7% in the dexamethasone group and 12% in the prednisone/prednisolone group (P =.002). Differences in all-cause readmission at 7- and 30 days were not statistically significant. The dexamethasone group had lower costs of index admission ($2621 vs $2838; P <.001) and total episode of care (including readmissions) ($2624 vs $2856; P <.001) compared with the prednisone/prednisolone group. There were no clinical significant differences in ICU transfer or readmissions between groups. Conclusions Dexamethasone may be considered an alternative to prednisone/prednisolone for children hospitalized with asthma exacerbation not requiring admission to intensive care.
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U2 - 10.1016/j.jpeds.2015.06.038
DO - 10.1016/j.jpeds.2015.06.038
M3 - Article
C2 - 26319919
AN - SCOPUS:84940029304
SN - 0022-3476
VL - 167
SP - 639-644.e1
JO - Journal of Pediatrics
JF - Journal of Pediatrics
IS - 3
ER -