Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41013297›Full record

SynthesisBMC emergency medicine2025

Mortality predictors in pediatric emergency department presentations: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Mohammed Alsabri, Mohamed A ELKarargy, Israa Magdy Ata, Mostafa A Khalifa, Abdulrahman Khaldoon Hamid, Ahmed Bostamy Elsnhory, Omar Ahmed Abdelwahab, Sarah Urbon

Abstract readSystematic ReviewMeta-Analysis
In one paragraph

Synthesis in BMC emergency medicine, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Mohammed AlsabriEmergency Department, Althawara Modern General Hospital, Sanaa, Yemen. Alsabri5000@gmail.com.
Mohamed A ELKarargyFaculty of Dentistry, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt.
Israa Magdy AtaFaculty of Medicine, Menofia University, Menofia, Egypt.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0002-9149-6066
Mostafa A KhalifaFaculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0009-7199-3939
Abdulrahman Khaldoon HamidMedical Intern, Jamil Tutanji Hospital, Amman, Jordan.
Ahmed Bostamy ElsnhoryFaculty of Medicine, Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt.
Omar Ahmed AbdelwahabFaculty of Medicine, Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt.
Sarah UrbonPediatric Emergency Medicine Physician, St. Christopher's Hospital for Children, Philadelphia, PA, USA.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundPediatric patients present to the emergency departments (EDs) with a wide range of clinical manifestations, ranging from mild to severe. A systematic approach is crucial to identify those at high risk of deterioration. However, the predictive value of such predictors remains unclear.

objectivesOur study aims to evaluate different mortality predictors used in pediatric emergency departments (PEDs) regarding the diagnostic accuracy metrics, including sensitivity, specificity, and diagnostic odds ratio.

methodsWe comprehensively searched multiple databases and included all cohort studies, case-control studies, and randomized controlled trials from January 2000 to December 2024 with pediatric patients (aged 0-18 years) presenting to PEDs, where mortality predictors were used to assess for in-ED and short-term post-ED mortality. We employed a bivariate random-effects model for data synthesis and analysis to calculate pooled sensitivity, specificity, diagnostic odds ratio (DOR), and area under the curve (AUC) values.

results329 Pediatric Early Warning Score (PEWS) thresholds were analyzed, with the model-derived optimal cutoff 2.189 (AUC) = 0.70; 95% CI: 0.63 to 0.76), high pooled sensitivity (0.95, 95% CI: 0.72 to 0.80) and specificity (0.93, 95% CI: 0.62 to 0.80). In addition, A strong negative predictive value (NPV = 0.0006) and modest positive predictive value (PPV = 0.0003) were noted. Heterogeneity was significant (I²>99%), driven by PEWS versions and clinical settings. PEWS implementation reduced mortality without increasing ICU admissions in resource-limited settings.

conclusionsPEWS is a good exclusion tool for those at low mortality risk. However, a comprehensive approach with clinical judgment is needed for the risk assessment of high-risk pediatrics.

Indexed as

Early Warning ScoreEmergency Service, HospitalHospital MortalityAdolescentChildChild, PreschoolHumansInfantInfant, NewbornPredictive Value of TestsSensitivity and SpecificityClinical predictorsDiagnostic accuracyEarly warning scoresEmergency departmentPediatric mortality predictorsRisk stratification

Identifiers

PMID41013297
PMCPMC12465593

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LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.