Perinatal Risk Factors for Infant Hospitalization With Viral Gastroenteritis

• DOI: 10.1542/peds.103.1.e3
• Publication Date: 2004-08-13T23:45:45Z
• Authors: Robert D. Newman; Jacqueline Grupp-...; David K. Shay; Robert L. Davis
• Keywords: Birth certificate

Context. A tetravalent vaccine against rotavirus, the most commonly identified etiologic agent of viral gastroenteritis (GE), has recently been licensed for use in United States. Objective. To evaluate whether specific groups infants might be at sufficiently high risk to warrant a focused rotavirus policy, we investigated perinatal factors hospitalization with GE and first year life. Design. Population-based, case–control study. Setting. Washington State linked birth certificate hospital discharge abstracts from 1987 through 1995. Patients. Infants, 1 11 months age, hospitalized (N = 1606) were patients this Control subjects 8084 nonhospitalized infants, frequency-matched on birth. Primary Outcome Measure. Maternal infant characteristics associated GE. Results. We found significant association between weight hospitalization. Very low (<1500 g) highest (odds ratio [OR] 2.6; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.6,4.1);, (1500–2499 g), intermediate (OR 1.6; CI: 1.3,2.1); large (>4000 reduced 0.8; 0.6,0.9). Other male gender 1.4; 1.3,1.6); maternal smoking 1.2; 1.1,1.4); unmarried mother Medicaid insurance 1.3,1.7); age <20 years 1.0,1.5). Infants born October December decreased 0.7,0.9), as Asian mothers 0.5; 0.3,0.7), >34 0.7; Using these factors, area under receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.63. Therefore, achieve sensitivity 90% identifying high-risk specificity would fall 10%. Subanalyses children admitted during peak Northwest season (January March) confirmed infection demonstrated similar curves. Conclusion. conclude that vaccination policy using readily identifiable potential unlikely prevent hospitalizations infection. However, safety premature must established, because appear greater rotavirus.