Evaluating pediatric risk of mortality (PRISM) score in a pediatric critical setting: A prospective observational study in Children’s Medical Center

Abstract

The pediatric risk of mortality (PRISM) score is a measure of illness severity based on abnormalities observed on bedside examination and laboratory assessment at pediatric Intensive care Unit (PICU) admission to predict mortality probability. Our study was performed on 205 patients who were admitted to PICU of children’s Medical center (CMC) over a period of 6 months.Data were recorded prospectively from observations at the time of admission in PICU and PRISM score was measured at admission (PRISMa) and after 24 hours (PRISMI). The mortality probability raised from 0 at low scores, approaching 1 above a PRISM score of near 40. Based on PRISMa score of 11.36, (cut-off point), patients were divided in two groups; 71% with low risk of mortaligy, who had significant difference in length of stay in ICU, admission costs and mortality rates. Other variables such as referring from other centers, mechanical ventilation at admission, and length of stay in ICU had s significant statistical relation with mortality rate.For data obtained, observed mortality rates were near similar to predicted. Athough pre-ICU PRISM score cannot be used as a single certain predictive value, but it is useful in predicting severity of illness and mortality probablitiy. Further investigations is required to determine the effectiveness of PRISM scores in our country