Search

We evaluated the variation in use of beta-2 agonists, glucocorticoids, histamine-1 antagonists, histamine-2 antagonists, inhaled epinephrine, intravenous fluids, and oxygen” Michelson et al (2016).

Abstract:

OBJECTIVES: We sought to determine the extent of variation in treatment of children with anaphylaxis.

METHODS: We identified children 1 month to 18 years of age presenting with a primary diagnosis of anaphylaxis to one of the 35 pediatric hospitals included in the Pediatric Health Information System between January 1, 2009 and September 30, 2013. We evaluated the variation in use of beta-2 agonists, glucocorticoids, histamine-1 antagonists, histamine-2 antagonists, inhaled epinephrine, intravenous fluids, and oxygen. We assessed whether variation exists in the rates of hospitalization and 3-day emergency department revisits, and whether a temporal trend exists in the ED visit rate for anaphylaxis.

[ctt tweet=”ReTweet if useful… Review of the treatment of children with anaphylaxis http://ctt.ec/3v45b+ @ivteam #ivteam” coverup=”3v45b”]

RESULTS: Among 10351 children with anaphylaxis, the hospital-level median use of common anaphylaxis therapies varied for β2 agonists (22%, interquartile range [IQR] 16-26), glucocorticoids (71%, IQR 65-76), H1 blockers (60%, IQR 57-65), H2 blockers (53%, IQR 36-64), inhaled epinephrine (2.2%, IQR 1.3-3.5), intravenous fluids (26%, IQR 13-41), and oxygen (2.6%, IQR 0.8-4.1). Hospitalization rates ranged from 12% to 95%, with a median rate of 41%. Anaphylaxis diagnoses rose from 5.7 to 11.7 patients per 10,000 ED visits between 2009 and 2013 (p < 0.001 for trend).

CONCLUSIONS: There is substantial variability in the use of common therapies and hospitalization rates for children cared for in U.S. children’s hospitals. Additionally, emergency department visits for children with anaphylaxis are increasing at U.S. children’s hospitals. These findings highlight the need for research defining optimal care for anaphylaxis.

Reference:

Michelson, K.A., Monuteaux, M.C. and Neuman, M.I. (2016) Variation and Trends in Anaphylaxis Care in United States Children’s Hospitals. Academic Emergency Medicine. February 1st. [Epub ahead of print].

doi: 10.1111/acem.12922.

Thank you to our partners for supporting IVTEAM
[slideshow_deploy id=’23788’]