Shock Index in the early assessment of febrile children at the emergency department: a prospective multicentre study

Nienke N. Hagedoorn, Joany M. Zachariasse, Dorine Borensztajn, Elise Adriaansens, Ulrich Von Both, Enitan D. Carrol, Irini Eleftheriou, Marieke Emonts, Michiel Van Der Flier, Ronald De Groot, Jethro Adam Herberg, Benno Kohlmaier, Emma Lim, Ian Maconochie, Federico Martinón-Torres, Ruud Gerard Nijman, Marko Pokorn, Irene Rivero-Calle, Maria Tsolia, Dace ZavadskaWerner Zenz, Michael Levin, Clementien Vermont, Henriette A. Moll (Corresponding Author)

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

5 Citations (Scopus)
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Abstract

Objective: (1) To derive reference values for the Shock Index (heart rate/systolic blood pressure) based on a large emergency department (ED) population of febrile children and (2) to determine the diagnostic value of the Shock Index for serious illness in febrile children. Design/setting: Observational study in 11 European EDs (2017-2018). Patients: Febrile children with measured blood pressure. Main outcome measures: Serious bacterial infection (SBI), invasive bacterial infection (IBI), immediate life-saving interventions (ILSIs) and intensive care unit (ICU) admission. The association between high Shock Index (>95th centile) and each outcome was determined by logistic regression adjusted for age, sex, referral, comorbidity and temperature. Additionally, we calculated sensitivity, specificity and negative/positive likelihood ratios (LRs). Results: Of 5622 children, 461 (8.2%) had SBI, 46 (0.8%) had IBI, 203 (3.6%) were treated with ILSI and 69 (1.2%) were ICU admitted. High Shock Index was associated with SBI (adjusted OR (aOR) 1.6 (95% CI 1.3 to 1.9)), ILSI (aOR 2.5 (95% CI 2.0 to 2.9)), ICU admission (aOR 2.2 (95% CI 1.4 to 2.9)) but not with IBI (aOR: 1.5 (95% CI 0.6 to 2.4)). For the different outcomes, sensitivity for high Shock Index ranged from 0.10 to 0.15, specificity ranged from 0.95 to 0.95, negative LRs ranged from 0.90 to 0.95 and positive LRs ranged from 1.8 to 2.8. Conclusions: High Shock Index is associated with serious illness in febrile children. However, its rule-out value is insufficient which suggests that the Shock Index is not valuable as a screening tool for all febrile children at the ED.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)116-122
JournalArchives of Disease in Childhood
Volume107
Issue number2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Feb 2022

Keywords*

  • epidemiology
  • physiology

Field of Science*

  • 3.2 Clinical medicine

Publication Type*

  • 1.1. Scientific article indexed in Web of Science and/or Scopus database

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