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Pediatrics

New Bronchitis Study Results from University of Edinburgh Described

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

A recent study from the University of Edinburgh has detailed the performance of various pediatric risk scores in predicting mortality among children hospitalized with acute lower respiratory tract infections (ALRIs) in Kenya. The research, supported by the Wellcome Trust, aimed to improve health outcomes in resource-limited settings by enhancing risk stratification of children presenting with ALRIs.

Key Takeaways:

  • The study retrospectively analyzed the data of 2182 children aged 2-24 months who were admitted to Kilifi County Referral Hospital, Kenya with severe ALRIs between January 2015 and December 2024.
  • The mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) version of the RISC-Malawi score showed the highest discrimination for the outcome of in-hospital mortality (AUROC, 0.83; 95% confidence interval, .79-.86).
  • The modification of ReSVinet to include nutrition status significantly improved its AUROC from 0.72 to 0.79.
  • All risk scores showed at least fair performance in the prediction of in-hospital mortality within the dataset.
  • The RISC-Malawi (MUAC) score appears to be the most promising candidate for future implementation for predicting mortality among children hospitalized with ALRIs.
  • The research concluded that all scores were at least fair at predicting in-hospital mortality, with 1 score marginally better than the others.
  • Additional researchers on this project include Becky Gordon, Harish Nair, Ruonan Pei, Joyce U. Nyiro, Zakariya Sheikh, Charles N. Agoti, and Heather Zar.

Statistics:

  • 2182 children aged 2-24 months were analyzed in the study.
  • The study period spanned from January 2015 to December 2024.
  • The mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) version of the RISC-Malawi score had an AUROC of 0.83 (95% CI, .79-.86).
  • The modification of ReSVinet to include nutrition status improved its AUROC from 0.72 to 0.79.
  • 6 ALRI risk scores were evaluated in the study.
  • The study was supported by the Wellcome Trust.

Sources:

  • External Validation of Pediatric Pneumonia and Bronchiolitis Risk Scores To Predict Mortality In Children Hospitalized In Kenya: a Retrospective Cohort Study. The Journal of Infectious Diseases, 2025.
  • Oxford Univ Press Inc, Journals Dept, 2001 Evans Rd, Cary, NC 27513, USA
  • Ting Shi, University of Edinburgh, Usher Inst, Edinburgh Med Sch, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
  • NewsRx. New Bronchitis Study Results from University of Edinburgh Described (External Validation of Pediatric Pneumonia and Bronchiolitis Risk Scores To Predict Mortality In Children Hospitalized In Kenya: a Retrospective Cohort Study). Respiratory Therapeutics Week. October 20, 2025; p 259.

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