Publication Date

4-2022

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Abstract

Background: “Apparent Life-Threatening Events” (ALTEs) have been associated with child physical abuse (CPA). In 2016, “Brief Resolved Unexplained Event” (BRUE) and the development of its clinical guidelines and risk-stratification replaced ALTE. However, it is unknown if there is a similar association between BRUEs and CPA. Objectives: To determine the rate of CPA in infants presenting with a BRUE, examine differences between infants with and without CPA, and to examine rates of diagnostic testing used to detect CPA. Methods: This study was part of the BRUE Research and Quality Improvement Network, which is composed of 15 academic and community hospitals. Subjects were infants presenting with BRUE in emergency department or inpatient settings and followed from BRUE presentation through the first year of life. The primary outcome was CPA diagnosis at either initial BRUE or subsequent presentations. The secondary outcomes were minor evidence of trauma and diagnostic testing used to detect CPA (head imaging, skeletal survey, and/or liver transaminases) at initial BRUE presentation. Chi-square tests assessed for differences. Results: Of the 2036 infants presenting with a BRUE, 7 (0.3%) were diagnosed with CPA. Only 1 (<0.1%) infant was diagnosed with CPA at initial BRUE presentation. Infants diagnosed with CPA were more likely to exhibit color change (100% vs. 51.1%, p=0.01) and have minor evidence of trauma (14.3% vs. 0.3%, p<0.001) at initial BRUE presentation. There was no difference in CPA diagnosis by BRUE risk stratification. There were 7 (0.3%) infants with minor evidence of trauma, only 1 of whom was diagnosed with CPA. Of all infants, only 6.2% underwent head imaging, 7% skeletal survey, and 12.1% liver transaminases. Skeletal survey was more likely to be performed if there was minor evidence of trauma (42.9 vs. 6.9%, P <0.001) or a concerning social history (13.9% vs. 5.9%, p <0.05). Head imaging was more often performed if infants had minor evidence of trauma (71.4% vs. 6.0%; p< 0.001), family history of sudden unexplained death (10.2% vs. 6.3%; p= 0.047) or concerning social history (22.8% vs. 5.4%; p< 0.001). Conclusion: There was a lower rate of CPA in infants at initial BRUE presentation (<0.1%) than in infants with ALTE, although testing rates at initial BRUE presentation were also low. Minor evidence of trauma and concerning social history appeared to raise suspicion for and initiate diagnostic testing to detect CPA. Further research is warranted to systematically identify infants with BRUE at increased risk for CPA.

Disciplines

Pediatrics

Notes

Presented at PAS 2022; Denver, CO; April 21-25, 2022.

Rates of Physical Abuse Screening and Detection in Infants with Brief Resolved Unexplained Events (BRUEs)

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Pediatrics Commons

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