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. 2023 Jan 11;13(1):e067482. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2022-067482

Table 3.

Multivariable regression analysis of factors associated with inpatient and post-discharge mortality

Inpatient analysis Post-discharge analysis
Adjusted SHR* P value Adjusted HR P value
Demographics
 Age in days
  0–2 2.12 (1.46–3.06) <0.001 1.30 (0.73–2.31) 0.37
  3–7 3.88 (2.46–6.10) <0.001 0.80 (0.38–1.68) 0.56
  8–28 1.42 (0.90–2.25) 0.13 1.45 (0.81–2.59) 0.21
  >28 Reference Reference
 Sex (female) 0.91 (0.78–1.07) 0.26 0.98 (0.74–1.31) 0.94
 Born at KCH
  Yes Reference
  No 1.59 (1.18–2.14) 0.003
 Admission days (log) 1.87 (1.54–2.26) <0.001
 Type of discharge
  Normal Reference
  Absconded 3.01 (1.22–7.46) 0.02
  Transferred/referred 12.8 (8.11–20.2) <0.001
Anthropometry
 Weight (kg)
  <1.5 2.16 (1.75–2.67) <0.001 1.95 (1.38–2.74) <0.001
  1.5 to <2.5 1.42 (1.16–1.74) 0.001 0.82 (0.48–1.42) 0.49
  ≥2.5 Reference Reference
  Missing weight 3.85 (2.59–5.71) <0.001
Clinical features
 Axillary temperature
  <36°C 1.44 (1.17–1.78) 0.001 1.06 (0.74–1.53) 0.75
  36–37.5°C Reference Reference
  >37.5°C 1.09 (0.84–1.41) 0.53 0.69 (0.47–0.99) 0.04
  Missing temperature 1.03 (0.38–2.75) 0.96 1.09 (0.15–8.22) 0.93
 Respiratory rate/min
  Bradypnoea 1.45 (1.09–1.93) 0.01 1.66 (0.76–3.63) 0.21
  Normal Reference Reference
  Tachypnoea 0.80 (0.67–0.95) 0.01 1.24 (0.93–1.66) 0.14
  Missing 1.51 (0.64–3.56) 0.34 0.80 (0.11–5.82) 0.82
 Heart rate/min
  Bradycardia 1.40 (1.08–1.82) 0.01
  Normal Reference
  Tachycardia 1.14 (0.94–1.37) 0.18
  Missing 0.41 (0.03–5.13) 0.49
 Hypoxia (SaO2 <90%) 1.62 (1.37–1.92) <0.001
 Capillary refill >2 s 1.34 (0.97–1.86) 0.08
 Lower chest wall indrawing 1.41 (1.14–1.75) 0.002
 Stridor 1.93 (0.92–4.03) 0.08
 Breathing difficulty 1.45 (1.15–1.82) 0.001
 Weak pulse 1.61 (1.19–2.17) 0.002 2.22 (1.01–4.89) 0.04
 Bulging fontanel 2.45 (0.91–6.65) 0.08 2.59 (0.92–7.26) 0.07
 Impaired consciousness 2.21 (1.72–2.84) <0.001
 Pallor 1.30 (0.98–1.71) 0.07
Laboratory features
 Meningitis 5.45 (2.50–11.8) <0.001 2.16 (0.73–6.37) 0.17
 HIV antibody positive 1.15 (0.81–1.63) 0.43 0.94 (0.43–2.05) 0.87
 Bacteraemia 2.21 (1.51–3.22) <0.001
 White blood cells (10⁹ cells/L)
  <4 2.17 (1.30–3.62) 0.003
  4–20 Reference
  >20 1.71 (1.43–2.04) <0.001
  Unavailable 1.09 (0.82–1.44) 0.57
Model performance
 Bootstrapped AUC (95% CI) 0.88 (0.86 to 0.89) 0.76 (0.73 to 0.80)

*The SHR are from the Fine and Gray’s proportional subhazards model, HR from the shared frailty Cox regression model.

†Variables not selected for inclusion in the multivariable model, AUC; area under receiver operating characteristics. Meningitis: positive CSF culture, or positive CSF microscopy, or positive CSF antigen test, or elevated CSF WBC count (≥0.02x10⁹/L in young infants aged 0–28 days OR, ≥0.01 x 10⁹/L in young infants aged 29–59 days) PLUS a positive blood culture for a known pathogen.

CSF, cerebrospinal fluid; KCH, Kilifi County Hospital; SHR, subdistribution HR; WBC, white blood cell.