Trends in Childhood Oncology Admissions to ICUs in Australia and New Zealand

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: There are few robust, national-level reports of contemporary trends in pediatric oncology admissions, resource use, and mortality. We aimed to describe national-level data on trends in intensive care admissions, interventions, and survival for children with cancer. DESIGN: Cohort study using a binational pediatric intensive care registry. SETTING: Australia and New Zealand. PATIENTS: Patients younger than 16 years, admitted to an ICU in Australia or New Zealand with an oncology diagnosis between January 1, 2003, and December 31, 2018. INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: We examined trends in oncology admissions, ICU interventions, and both crude and risk-adjusted patient-level mortality. Eight thousand four hundred ninety admissions were identified for 5,747 patients, accounting for 5.8% of PICU admissions. Absolute and population-indexed oncology admissions increased from 2003 to 2018, and median length of stay increased from 23.2 hours (interquartile range [IQR], 16.8–62 hr) to 38.8 hours (IQR, 20.9–81.1 hr) (p < 0.001). Three hundred fifty-seven of 5,747 patients died (6.2%). There was a 45% reduction in risk-adjusted ICU mortality, which reduced from 3.3% (95% CI, 2.1–4.4) in 2003–2004 to 1.8% (95% CI, 1.1–2.5%) in 2017–2018 (p trend = 0.02). The greatest reduction in mortality seen in hematological cancers and in nonelective admissions. Mechanical ventilation rates were unchanged from 2003 to 2018, while the use of high-flow nasal prong oxygen increased (incidence rate ratio, 2.43; 95% CI, 1.61–3.67 per 2 yr). CONCLUSIONS: In Australian and New Zealand PICUs, pediatric oncology admissions are increasing steadily and such admissions are staying longer, representing a considerable proportion of ICU activity. The mortality of children with cancer who are admitted to ICU is low and falling.