Factors Predicting Heart Failure in Children Admitted to a Pediatric Emergency Ward in a Developing Country

Background: Heart failure is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in children. Objective: To determine the clinical characteristics of children with acute heart failure syndrome in the emergency ward of River state university teaching hospital, Nigeria and identify factors associated with poor outcomes. Methods: This was an 18month retrospective review of the acute heart failure register. Poor outcome measures were defined as the persistence of heart failure after 4 days on admission or death. Results: Ninety-two (4.1%) of 2,244 children admitted were in heart failure, Non-cardiac disorders [bronchopneumonia 32(36%), sepsis 21(24%), severe malaria 10(11%), sickle cell anaemia 8(9%) and tuberculosis 3(3%)] contributed to 74(83%) while congenital heart disease(CHD) was 15(17%). Seventy-four (83%) were discharged, 10(11%) died and 4(5%) left against medical advice. The median time to resolution of heart failure was significantly 24 hours longer for malnourished children than those with normal-nutritional status, 72Vs48hrs, log rank:0.001. Those with modified Ross score of >7 and sepsis were more likely to die, OR,8.8(95% CI,1.2 to 72.5,p = 0.02) and 3.9(95% CI,1.01 to 15.2;p =0.04). Age 7 and sepsis are risk factors for mortality in children with heart failure. (Int J Cardiovasc Sci. 2020; 33(6):673-685)