Obesity and Corticosteroid Dosing Guideline Adherence in Children Hospitalized With Asthma.

Creator(s)

Kathyrn Kyler, Children's Mercy HospitalFollow
Jessica L. Bettenhausen, Children's Mercy HospitalFollow
Matt Hall, Children's Mercy Hospital
Earl F. Glynn, Children's Mercy HospitalFollow
Mark A. Hoffman, Children's Mercy HospitalFollow
Valentina Shakhnovich, Children's Mercy HospitalFollow
Kim Smolderen
Ann M. Davis, Children's Mercy Hospital

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

4-2021

Identifier

DOI: 10.1542/hpeds.2020-001420

Abstract

Objectives: Drug dosing recommendations for children with obesity remain limited. This may lead to variability in medication dosing among children with obesity. Therefore, our objective was to determine differences in the prevalence of guideline-nonadherent systemic corticosteroid orders by weight category in children hospitalized for asthma.

Methods: We performed a retrospective cross-sectional study of children aged 2 to 17 years hospitalized with asthma and prescribed systemic corticosteroids between January 1, 2010, and December 31, 2017, using the Cerner Health Facts deidentified database. Weight categories ranging from underweight to class III obesity were defined on the basis of BMI percentiles by using CDC guidelines. Corticosteroid orders were categorized as guideline adherent or nonadherent on the basis of total body weight-based dosing guidelines from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. χ2 test and multivariable logistic regression models were used to determine differences in guideline adherence between weight categories.

Results: We identified 21 488 children prescribed systemic corticosteroids during asthma hospitalizations. Most (54.2%) had a healthy weight, and 23.8% had obesity. Almost one-quarter received guideline-nonadherent orders (22.2%), with increasing prevalence among higher weight categories (19.4% of healthy weight children versus 36.0% of those with class III obesity; P < .001). After controlling for demographic and clinical covariates, weight category remained significantly associated with receiving a guideline-nonadherent order (P < .001).

Conclusions: The prevalence of guideline-nonadherent corticosteroid orders for children hospitalized with asthma increases linearly with weight category, disproportionately affecting children with severe obesity. Standardization of drug dosing guidelines for children with obesity may help reduce variability in drug doses prescribed that may increase risk of harm.

Journal Title

Hosp Pediatr

Volume

11

Issue

4

First Page

380

Last Page

388

Recommended Citation

Kyler KE, Bettenhausen JL, Hall M, et al. Obesity and Corticosteroid Dosing Guideline Adherence in Children Hospitalized With Asthma. Hosp Pediatr. 2021;11(4):380-388. doi:10.1542/hpeds.2020-001420