Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42650353›Full record

ArticleChildren (Basel, Switzerland)2026

Evolution of Clinical Fragility and Medication Burden in Children with Medical Complexity: A Longitudinal Cohort Study.

Anna Zanin, Fernando Baratiri, Gloria Brigiari, Barbara Roverato, Daniele Mengato, Laura Camuffo, Dario Gregori, Francesca Venturini, Franca Benini

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In one paragraph

Article in Children (Basel, Switzerland), 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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0citing papers in PubMed
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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

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

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

9 authors.

Anna ZaninCentre de Coordination Interdisciplinaire et de Soins des Maladies Rares et Complexes de l'Enfant et de l'Adolescent, Département de la Femme, de l'Enfant et de l'Adolescent, Service de Pédiatrie Générale, Hôpital des Enfants, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland.ORCID 0000-0002-4210-8509
Fernando BaratiriDepartment of Pediatrics, Azienda Ulss3 Serenissima, Ospedale Dell'Angelo, Mestre-Venezia, 30174 Venice, Italy.
Gloria BrigiariUnit of Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Public Health, Department of Cardiac, Vascular Sciences and Public Health, University of Padova, 35128 Padua, Italy.ORCID 0009-0000-7274-4373
Barbara RoveratoPalliative Care and Pain Service, Department of Women's and Children's Health, University of Padua, 35128 Padua, Italy.
Daniele MengatoHospital Pharmacy Department, Padua University Hospital, 35128 Padua, Italy.ORCID 0000-0003-1374-1505
Laura CamuffoHospital Pharmacy Department, Padua University Hospital, 35128 Padua, Italy.
Dario GregoriUnit of Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Public Health, Department of Cardiac, Vascular Sciences and Public Health, University of Padova, 35128 Padua, Italy.ORCID 0000-0001-7906-0580
Francesca VenturiniHospital Pharmacy Department, Padua University Hospital, 35128 Padua, Italy.ORCID 0000-0003-0396-4377
Franca BeniniPalliative Care and Pain Service, Department of Women's and Children's Health, University of Padua, 35128 Padua, Italy.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

BACKGROUND/

objectivesChildren with medical complexity (CMC) often suffer from chronic or evolving conditions that require increasingly complex treatment regimens over time, resulting in increased therapeutic and care burdens, costs, and the risk of adverse effects and medication errors. The study aimed to describe the variation in healthcare needs, medication regimens and medication burden over time and to describe the relationship between the number of drugs and healthcare needs.

methodsIn this cohort study, conducted at the Pediatric Palliative Care Center of Padua, Italy, two repeated assessments were performed, respectively, in October 2021 (t

resultsThe study analyzed treatment regimens of 147 patients with a median age of 12.1 years at t

conclusionsOver time, the degree of complexity in our population increased significantly, as evidenced by the increased healthcare needs, treatment regimens and burden on families. The number of prescribed drugs showed a strong and statistically significant relationship with patient care complexity. Treatment regimen characteristics were strongly associated with patient care complexity. Future studies should evaluate whether these pharmacological variables may have a role in supporting clinical assessment.

Indexed as

children with medical complexity (CMC)healthcare needsmedication burdenpediatric palliative carepolypharmacy

Identifiers

PMID42650353
PMCPMC13511260

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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.