Admission and length of stay due to painful vasoocclusive crisis in children.

PURPOSE: To identify demographic, clinical, and laboratory characteristics associated with admission and a longer length of stay (LOS) due to vasoocclusive crisis (VOC) in children with sickle cell disease (SCD).

METHODS: Retrospective chart review at a large tertiary pediatric center. Patients younger than 18 years with VOC due to SCD presenting to the emergency department were included. We performed multivariate regression analyses to predict characteristics associated with admission and LOS of 4 days or more.

RESULTS: A total of 428 visits for VOC were documented in 2005 to 2006. In a multivariate regression analysis higher pain score at triage (P < .001), older age (P = .04), and increased systolic blood pressure (P = .02) were predictors of admission. Higher pain score at triage (P = .046), older age (P = .002), increased polymorphonuclear count (P = .02), and homozygous SCD type (P = .03) were associated with prolonged hospital LOS.

CONCLUSION: These characteristics will help healthcare providers predict and plan admission and management of children with SCD.